When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lake and Bay Back Water 20 ft. 2007 and the Lake and Bay Predator 17 ft. 6 in. 2010 are flat 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 Lake and Bay Predator 17 ft. 6 in. 2010 measures 17,5 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 15,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lake and Bay Back Water 20 ft. 2007 at 2,0 feet (2007). At 15 lbs and 75 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 150 hp, the Lake and Bay Back Water 20 ft. 2007 has a 60-hp advantage over the Lake and Bay Predator 17 ft. 6 in. 2010's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Lake and Bay Back Water 20 ft. 2007 carries 48 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Lake and Bay Predator 17 ft. 6 in. 2010. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lake and Bay Back Water 20 ft. 2007 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lake and Bay Predator 17 ft. 6 in. 2010 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lake and Bay Back Water 20 ft. 2007 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lake and Bay Back Water 20 ft. 2007 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Lake and Bay Predator 17 ft. 6 in. 2010. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Bottom line: Choose the Lake and Bay Back Water 20 ft. 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lake and Bay Predator 17 ft. 6 in. 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.