When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Monterey 184FS 2013 and the Monterey 204FS 2013 are deep vee 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Monterey 184FS 2013 at 18,0 ft versus Monterey 204FS 2013 at 19,6 ft. At 25 lbs and 31 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 270 hp, the Monterey 204FS 2013 has a 45-hp advantage over the Monterey 184FS 2013's 225-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Monterey 204FS 2013 carries 36 gallons versus 28 gallons in the Monterey 184FS 2013. 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 Monterey 184FS 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Monterey 204FS 2013 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Monterey 184FS 2013 could be the deciding factor.