The Orkney 452 2019 vs Orkney Fastliner 19 2017 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 Orkney Fastliner 19 2017 measures 19,5 feet overall (2017), giving it roughly 5,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Orkney 452 2019 at 14,1 feet (2019). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Orkney Fastliner 19 2017 tips the scales at 1 500 lbs — 695 lbs less than the Orkney 452 2019 at 805 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 20 hp for the Orkney 452 2019 and 30 hp for the Orkney Fastliner 19 2017. 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Orkney Fastliner 19 2017 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Orkney 452 2019 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Orkney Fastliner 19 2017 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Orkney Fastliner 19 2017 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 19,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Orkney 452 2019 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.