The Custom Weld 17 ft. Sport 2011 is a modified-V design and the Custom Weld 23 - 24 ft. Custom Series 2012 is a deep-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Custom Weld 23 - 24 ft. Custom Series 2012 measures 23,0 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Custom Weld 17 ft. Sport 2011 at 17,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Custom Weld 23 - 24 ft. Custom Series 2012 tips the scales at 4 600 lbs - 2 300 lbs less than the Custom Weld 17 ft. Sport 2011 at 2 300 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The Custom Weld 23 - 24 ft. Custom Series 2012 tops out at 330 hp. Engine specs for the Custom Weld 17 ft. Sport 2011 aren't listed - confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Custom Weld 23 - 24 ft. Custom Series 2012 carries 96 gallons versus 39 gallons in the Custom Weld 17 ft. Sport 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Custom Weld 23 - 24 ft. Custom Series 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Custom Weld 17 ft. Sport 2011 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Custom Weld 23 - 24 ft. Custom Series 2012 could be the deciding factor.