The Ebbtide 176 SE Bow Rider 2013 is a modified-V design and the Ebbtide 188 SE Bow Rider 2011 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Ebbtide 176 SE Bow Rider 2013 at 17,5 ft versus Ebbtide 188 SE Bow Rider 2011 at 18,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Ebbtide 176 SE Bow Rider 2013 tips the scales at 2 300 lbs - 150 lbs more than the Ebbtide 188 SE Bow Rider 2011 at 2 150 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 225 hp, the Ebbtide 176 SE Bow Rider 2013 has a 35-hp advantage over the Ebbtide 188 SE Bow Rider 2011's 190-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 20 gal and 20 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Ebbtide 188 SE Bow Rider 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Ebbtide 176 SE Bow Rider 2013 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Ebbtide 188 SE Bow Rider 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Ebbtide 188 SE Bow Rider 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 8 passengers and at 18,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Ebbtide 176 SE Bow Rider 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.