When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Maritime 1690 2010 and the Maritime 20 Defiant 2012 are modified vee designs with composite 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 Maritime 20 Defiant 2012 measures 20,6 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 4,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Maritime 1690 2010 at 16,5 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Maritime 20 Defiant 2012 tips the scales at 204 lbs — 192 lbs less than the Maritime 1690 2010 at 12 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 150 hp, the Maritime 20 Defiant 2012 has a 75-hp advantage over the Maritime 1690 2010'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 — 26 gal and 29 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Maritime 20 Defiant 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Maritime 1690 2010 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Maritime 20 Defiant 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Maritime 20 Defiant 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 20,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Maritime 1690 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.