When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the EdgeWater 170CC 2011 and the EdgeWater 188CX 2012 are deep vee designs with composite construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — EdgeWater 170CC 2011 at 16,8 ft versus EdgeWater 188CX 2012 at 18,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the EdgeWater 188CX 2012 tips the scales at 215 lbs — 198 lbs less than the EdgeWater 170CC 2011 at 17 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 150 hp, the EdgeWater 188CX 2012 has a 35-hp advantage over the EdgeWater 170CC 2011's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the EdgeWater 170CC 2011 carries 32 gallons versus 4 gallons in the EdgeWater 188CX 2012. 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 EdgeWater 188CX 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the EdgeWater 170CC 2011 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the EdgeWater 188CX 2012 could be the deciding factor.