When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Excel Boats 1851 SWCC 2011 and the Excel Boats 1860VSC 2011 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 7 000 hp, the Excel Boats 1851 SWCC 2011 has a 6 885-hp advantage over the Excel Boats 1860VSC 2011's 115-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 1851 SWCC 2011 caps at 4. 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 1851 SWCC 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.