The Leisure Pontoons 1723 Navigator 2006 vs Leisure Pontoons 1823 RE Cruise 2005 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Leisure Pontoons 1723 Navigator 2006 at 17,0 ft versus Leisure Pontoons 1823 RE Cruise 2005 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Leisure Pontoons 1823 RE Cruise 2005 tips the scales at 975 lbs — 860 lbs less than the Leisure Pontoons 1723 Navigator 2006 at 115 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 75 hp, the Leisure Pontoons 1823 RE Cruise 2005 has a 73-hp advantage over the Leisure Pontoons 1723 Navigator 2006's 2-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Leisure Pontoons 1823 RE Cruise 2005 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Leisure Pontoons 1723 Navigator 2006 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Leisure Pontoons 1823 RE Cruise 2005 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Leisure Pontoons 1823 RE Cruise 2005 comes in at 13 lbs per hp versus 58 lbs per hp for the Leisure Pontoons 1723 Navigator 2006. 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.
Both are inflatable designs, which means they pack down for compact storage, can be carried in a bag, and are dramatically lighter than equivalent rigid hulls. The trade-off is setup time and the need to monitor tube pressure regularly. Tube diameter differs: 23 in. 24 in. crossmembers on center on the Leisure Pontoons 1723 Navigator 2006 vs 23 in on the Leisure Pontoons 1823 RE Cruise 2005 — larger tubes generally mean more buoyancy and a drier, more stable ride.
Bottom line: Choose the Leisure Pontoons 1823 RE Cruise 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Leisure Pontoons 1723 Navigator 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.