When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck Series 2009 and the PlayCraft Power Deck Xtreme 2600 I/O 2012 are planing hull 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?
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 425 hp, the PlayCraft Power Deck Xtreme 2600 I/O 2012 has a 200-hp advantage over the PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck Series 2009'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 PlayCraft Power Deck Xtreme 2600 I/O 2012 carries 99 gallons versus 7 gallons in the PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck Series 2009. 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 PlayCraft Power Deck Xtreme 2600 I/O 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck Series 2009 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the PlayCraft Power Deck Xtreme 2600 I/O 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the PlayCraft Power Deck Xtreme 2600 I/O 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The PlayCraft FX4 FishDeck Series 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.