Matching a flat Excel Boats 1860F86TGB 2012 against a modified vee Excel Boats EX754 2013 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 1860F86TGB 2012 at 18,0 ft versus Excel Boats EX754 2013 at 17,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Excel Boats EX754 2013 tips the scales at 895 lbs — 120 lbs less than the Excel Boats 1860F86TGB 2012 at 775 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 90 hp, the Excel Boats EX754 2013 has a 83-hp advantage over the Excel Boats 1860F86TGB 2012'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 1860F86TGB 2012 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Excel Boats EX754 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 1860F86TGB 2012 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Excel Boats EX754 2013 comes in at 10 lbs per hp versus 111 lbs per hp for the Excel Boats 1860F86TGB 2012. 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.