When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Frontier Boats Frontier 180 2013 and the Frontier Boats Frontier 2104 2013 are modified vee designs with fiberglass 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 Frontier Boats Frontier 2104 2013 measures 21,3 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 3,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Frontier Boats Frontier 180 2013 at 18,2 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Frontier Boats Frontier 2104 2013 tips the scales at 1 795 lbs — 1 783 lbs less than the Frontier Boats Frontier 180 2013 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Frontier Boats Frontier 2104 2013 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Frontier Boats Frontier 180 2013 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Frontier Boats Frontier 2104 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Frontier Boats Frontier 2104 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 21,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Frontier Boats Frontier 180 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.