The Key West 197 SK 2012 vs Key West Boats 189FS 2021 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 115 hp for the Key West 197 SK 2012 and 115 hp for the Key West Boats 189FS 2021. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Key West 197 SK 2012 carries 19 gallons versus 4 gallons in the Key West Boats 189FS 2021. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.