When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Kenner 180 VX Tunnel 2008 and the Kenner 19 VX 2009 are deep 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Kenner 180 VX Tunnel 2008 at 17,0 ft versus Kenner 19 VX 2009 at 18,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kenner 19 VX 2009 tips the scales at 1 275 lbs — 1 176 lbs less than the Kenner 180 VX Tunnel 2008 at 99 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 125 hp, the Kenner 19 VX 2009 has a 35-hp advantage over the Kenner 180 VX Tunnel 2008's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 35 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 Kenner 19 VX 2009 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Kenner 180 VX Tunnel 2008 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Kenner 19 VX 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Kenner 19 VX 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 18,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Kenner 180 VX Tunnel 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.