Matching a flat Excel Boats 1851B86 2013 against a modified vee Excel Boats 1860VF4 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Excel Boats 1851B86 2013 at 18,0 ft versus Excel Boats 1860VF4 2011 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Excel Boats 1851B86 2013 tips the scales at 725 lbs — 649 lbs more than the Excel Boats 1860VF4 2011 at 76 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 75 hp, the Excel Boats 1860VF4 2011 has a 68-hp advantage over the Excel Boats 1851B86 2013's 7-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 1860VF4 2011 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Excel Boats 1851B86 2013 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 1860VF4 2011 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Excel Boats 1860VF4 2011 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 104 lbs per hp for the Excel Boats 1851B86 2013. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.