Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 vs Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 or the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006?

The Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 is the longer of the two at 18,0 feet overall. The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 16,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 or the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006?

For trailering, the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 has the edge at 28 lbs dry weight versus 245 lbs for the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 is rated to a maximum of 260 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 tops out at 190 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat has the better power-to-weight ratio?

The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 0 lbs per hp compared to 1 lbs per hp for the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 measures 98" wide, compared to 92" for the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 or the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006?

The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 has the bigger tank at 38 gallons, versus 22 gallons on the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 48–80 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 and Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 and the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 are built by Mariah. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 vs Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006

Mariah

Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008

2008

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Mariah

Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006

2006

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 vs Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 vs Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 measures 18,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 16,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 at 2,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 tips the scales at 245 lbs — 217 lbs more than the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 at 28 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 260 hp, the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 has a 70-hp advantage over the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008's 190-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 carries 38 gallons versus 22 gallons in the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008. 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 Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008. 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 Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeMariah

ModelSX18 Bow Rider

ModelSX20 Bow Rider

Model Year2008

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 8 in. (2.3 m)

Beam8 ft. 2 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters2.34

Beam - Meters2.49

Beam - Inches92

Beam - Inches98

Deadrise18℃

Deadrise19℃

Weight - Detail2,450 lbs. (1,111 kg)

Weight - Detail2,800 lbs. (1,270 kg)

Weight - kg1111.3

Weight - kg1270.06

Weight - lbs.245

Weight - lbs.28

Length - Meters5.5

Length - Meters6.1

Length - Feet18

Length - Feet2

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 0 in. (5.5 m)

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 0 in. (6.1 m)

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Meters6.1

Length overall - Inches216

Length overall - Inches24

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail22 gal. (83 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail38 gal. (144 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters83.28

Fuel tank capacity - Liters143.85

Fuel tank capacity - Gal22

Fuel tank capacity - Gal38

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Engine max190 hp (142 kW)

Engine max260 hp (194 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacityTotal: 1,250 lbs. (567 kg) Maximum: 3,000 lbs. (1,362 kg)

Maximum capacity1,590 lbs. (721 kg)

Maximum people8

Maximum people1

Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 vs Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 or the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006?

The Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 is the longer of the two at 18,0 feet overall. The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 16,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 or the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006?

For trailering, the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 has the edge at 28 lbs dry weight versus 245 lbs for the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 is rated to a maximum of 260 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 tops out at 190 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat has the better power-to-weight ratio?

The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 0 lbs per hp compared to 1 lbs per hp for the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 measures 98" wide, compared to 92" for the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 or the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006?

The Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 has the bigger tank at 38 gallons, versus 22 gallons on the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 48–80 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 and Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 and the Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 are built by Mariah. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Mariah SX18 Bow Rider 2008 full specs ← Mariah SX20 Bow Rider 2006 full specs