Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Princecraft Scamper 2012 vs Princecraft Sportfisher 18 L4S 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Princecraft Scamper 2012 against a pontoon Princecraft Sportfisher 18 L4S 2007 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Princecraft Sportfisher 18 L4S 2007 measures 18,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 3,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Princecraft Scamper 2012 at 14,3 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Sportfisher 18 L4S 2007 tips the scales at 1 394 lbs — 1 379 lbs less than the Princecraft Scamper 2012 at 15 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 60 hp, the Princecraft Sportfisher 18 L4S 2007 has a 45-hp advantage over the Princecraft Scamper 2012's 15-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Princecraft Sportfisher 18 L4S 2007 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Princecraft Scamper 2012 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft Sportfisher 18 L4S 2007 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Princecraft Scamper 2012 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 23 lbs per hp for the Princecraft Sportfisher 18 L4S 2007. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft Sportfisher 18 L4S 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft Scamper 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakePrincecraft
MakePrincecraft
ModelScamper
ModelSportfisher 18 L4S
Model Year2012
Model Year2007
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam58 in. (1.5 m)
Beam8 ft. 0 in. (2.4 m)
Beam - Meters1.47
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Inches58
Beam - Inches96
Depth - Detail21 in. (0.5 m)
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - Centimeters53.34
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Inches21
Depth - Inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail13 in. (0.4 m)
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.33
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches13
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail150 lbs. (68 kg)
Weight - Detail1,394 lbs. (632 kg)
Weight - kg68.04
Weight - kg632.31
Weight - lbs.15
Weight - lbs.1394
Width [transom] - Detail45 in. (1.1 m)
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Height [transom]15 in. (0.4 m)
Height [transom]not available
Length - Feet14.33
Length - Feet18
Length overall - Detail14 ft. 4 in. (4.3 m)
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 4 in. (5.6 m)
Length overall - Meters4.37
Length overall - Meters5.59
Length overall - Inches172
Length overall - Inches22
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]18 ft. 0 in. (5.5 m)
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters5.6
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches4
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thicknessBottom & Side: 0.051 in. (1.3 mm)
Hull thicknessnot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typePontoon
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - DetailPortable
Fuel tank capacity - DetailPortable
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max15 hp (12 kW)
Engine max60 hp (45 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity750 lbs. (340 kg)
Maximum capacityPerson: 1,229 lbs. (557 kg) Total: 1,730 lbs. (785 kg)
Maximum people4 / 548 lbs. (249 kg)
Maximum people9
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameternot available
Tube diameter23 in. (0.58 m)
Tube gaugenot available
Tube gauge0.080 in. (2 mm)
Number of tubesnot available
Number of tubes2