When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Excel Boats 1544VDB 2011 and the Excel Boats 1651VSC 2012 are modified vee designs with aluminum 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?
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 50 hp, the Excel Boats 1651VSC 2012 has a 25-hp advantage over the Excel Boats 1544VDB 2011's 25-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Excel Boats 1651VSC 2012 is rated for 4 passengers, while the Excel Boats 1544VDB 2011 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Excel Boats 1651VSC 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Excel Boats 1651VSC 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 4 passengers and at 16,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Excel Boats 1544VDB 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.