When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the G3 Boats Angler V172 F 2010 and the G3 Boats Angler V185 FS 2011 are deep 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 — G3 Boats Angler V172 F 2010 at 17,2 ft versus G3 Boats Angler V185 FS 2011 at 18,4 ft. At 144 lbs and 172 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 200 hp, the G3 Boats Angler V185 FS 2011 has a 85-hp advantage over the G3 Boats Angler V172 F 2010's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 33 gal and 35 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The G3 Boats Angler V185 FS 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the G3 Boats Angler V172 F 2010 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the G3 Boats Angler V185 FS 2011 could be the deciding factor.