When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Excel Boats 2172VSC 2012 and the Excel Boats Bay Pro 203 2013 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Excel Boats 2172VSC 2012 at 21,0 ft versus Excel Boats Bay Pro 203 2013 at 20,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Excel Boats Bay Pro 203 2013 tips the scales at 155 lbs — 143 lbs less than the Excel Boats 2172VSC 2012 at 12 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 175 hp, the Excel Boats 2172VSC 2012 has a 25-hp advantage over the Excel Boats Bay Pro 203 2013's 150-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 Bay Pro 203 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Excel Boats 2172VSC 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Excel Boats Bay Pro 203 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Excel Boats Bay Pro 203 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 20,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Excel Boats 2172VSC 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.