The North Coast 31 Special Edition Express 1989 vs NorthCoast 18 ft. Skiff 2013 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 370 hp, the North Coast 31 Special Edition Express 1989 has a 310-hp advantage over the NorthCoast 18 ft. Skiff 2013's 60-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 26 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The North Coast 31 Special Edition Express 1989 is rated for 9 passengers, while the NorthCoast 18 ft. Skiff 2013 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the North Coast 31 Special Edition Express 1989 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the North Coast 31 Special Edition Express 1989 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 31,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The NorthCoast 18 ft. Skiff 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.