Matching a flat Excel Boats 1745SWV4 2012 against a modified vee Excel Boats 1860VSC 2011 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 115 hp, the Excel Boats 1860VSC 2011 has a 80-hp advantage over the Excel Boats 1745SWV4 2012's 35-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 1860VSC 2011 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Excel Boats 1745SWV4 2012 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 1860VSC 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Excel Boats 1860VSC 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Excel Boats 1745SWV4 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.