The McKee Craft Marathon 172CC 2006 vs McKee Craft Marathon 196 DC 2007 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 — McKee Craft Marathon 172CC 2006 at 17,0 ft versus McKee Craft Marathon 196 DC 2007 at 19,0 ft. At 125 lbs and 195 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 115 hp for the McKee Craft Marathon 172CC 2006 and 115 hp for the McKee Craft Marathon 196 DC 2007. 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 McKee Craft Marathon 172CC 2006 carries 36 gallons versus 8 gallons in the McKee Craft Marathon 196 DC 2007. 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 McKee Craft Marathon 196 DC 2007 is rated for 8 passengers, while the McKee Craft Marathon 172CC 2006 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the McKee Craft Marathon 196 DC 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the McKee Craft Marathon 196 DC 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 19,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The McKee Craft Marathon 172CC 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.