When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Fish-Rite Explorer Series 2009 and the Fish-Rite Sportsman Cuddy 20 ft. 2007 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Fish-Rite Explorer Series 2009 measures 16,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 14,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Fish-Rite Sportsman Cuddy 20 ft. 2007 at 2,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Fish-Rite Sportsman Cuddy 20 ft. 2007 tips the scales at 1 195 lbs — 1 188 lbs less than the Fish-Rite Explorer Series 2009 at 7 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Fish-Rite Explorer Series 2009 is rated for 650 passengers, while the Fish-Rite Sportsman Cuddy 20 ft. 2007 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fish-Rite Explorer Series 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Fish-Rite Explorer Series 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 650 passengers and at 16,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fish-Rite Sportsman Cuddy 20 ft. 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.