When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2007 and the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 18 ft. Guide (78 in. beam) 2008 are flat 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 — Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2007 at 15,0 ft versus Fish-Rite Fishmaster 18 ft. Guide (78 in. beam) 2008 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2007 tips the scales at 575 lbs — 569 lbs more than the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 18 ft. Guide (78 in. beam) 2008 at 6 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 145 hp, the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 18 ft. Guide (78 in. beam) 2008 has a 35-hp advantage over the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2007's 110-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 Fish-Rite Fishmaster 18 ft. Guide (78 in. beam) 2008 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2007 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 18 ft. Guide (78 in. beam) 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Fish-Rite Fishmaster 18 ft. Guide (78 in. beam) 2008 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 5 lbs per hp for the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2007. 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 18 ft. Guide (78 in. beam) 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.