Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 boat specs
Fish-Rite
Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008
2008
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VS
Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 boat specs
Fish-Rite
Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008
2008
View full specs →

Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 vs Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a flat Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 against a modified vee Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 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 — Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 at 15,0 ft versus Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 tips the scales at 575 lbs — 567 lbs more than the Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 at 8 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 110 hp for the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 and 125 hp for the Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 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 Performer 17 ft. 2008 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 5 lbs per hp for the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008. 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 Performer 17 ft. 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) 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeFish-Rite
MakeFish-Rite
ModelFishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam)
ModelPerformer 17 ft
Model Year2008
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam84 in
Beam91 in
Beam - Meters2.13
Beam - Meters2.31
Beam - Inches84
Beam - Inches91
Weight - Detail575 lbs
Weight - Detail800 lbs
Weight - kg260.82
Weight - kg362.87
Weight - lbs.575
Weight - lbs.8
Height - Detail28 in
Height - Detail30 in
Height - Meters0.71
Height - Meters0.76
Height - Inches28
Height - Inches3
Length - Feet15
Length - Feet17
Length - Inches1
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail15 ft. 10 in
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Meters4.83
Length overall - Meters5.18
Length overall - Inches19
Length overall - Inches204
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull typeFlat
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max110 hp
Engine max125 hp
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,100 lbs
Maximum capacity1,200 lbs

Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 vs Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 or the Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008?
The Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 is the longer of the two at 17,0 feet overall. The Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 comes in at 15,0 feet, making it roughly 2,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 or the Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008?
For trailering, the Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 has the edge at 8 lbs dry weight versus 575 lbs for the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 is rated to a maximum of 125 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 tops out at 110 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 is certified for 5. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat has the better power-to-weight ratio?
The Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 0 lbs per hp compared to 5 lbs per hp for the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 measures 91" wide, compared to 84" for the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Are the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 and Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Fish-Rite Fishmaster 16 ft. Guide (84 in. beam) 2008 and the Fish-Rite Performer 17 ft. 2008 are built by Fish-Rite. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.