When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Key Largo 160 2012 and the Key Largo 186 Bay 2013 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Key Largo 186 Bay 2013 measures 18,2 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 3,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Key Largo 160 2012 at 15,0 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Key Largo 160 2012 tips the scales at 975 lbs — 820 lbs more than the Key Largo 186 Bay 2013 at 155 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 115 hp, the Key Largo 186 Bay 2013 has a 40-hp advantage over the Key Largo 160 2012's 75-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 23 gal and 22 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Key Largo 186 Bay 2013 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Key Largo 160 2012 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Key Largo 186 Bay 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Key Largo 186 Bay 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 18,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Key Largo 160 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.