ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 vs ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 or the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006?

For trailering, the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 has the edge at 166 lbs dry weight versus 1 402 lbs for the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 tops out at 125 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 measures 96" wide, compared to 85" for the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 or the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006?

The ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 has the bigger tank at 31 gallons, versus 25 gallons on the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005. That 6-gallon difference translates to roughly 18–30 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 and ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 and the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 are built by ProCraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 vs ProCraft 181 Combo 2006

ProCraft

ProCraft 170 Combo 2005

2005

View full specs →

ProCraft

ProCraft 181 Combo 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 vs ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 vs ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 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 200 hp, the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 has a 75-hp advantage over the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005's 125-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 carries 31 gallons versus 25 gallons in the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005. 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 ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 is rated for 6 passengers, while the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeProCraft

Model170 Combo

Model181 Combo

Model Year2005

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam85 in

Beam96 in

Beam - Meters2.16

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches85

Beam - Inches96

Draft [drive up] - Detailn/a

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail1402 Lbs

Weight - Detail1,660 lbs

Weight - kg635.94

Weight - kg752.96

Weight - lbs.1402

Weight - lbs.166

Height - Detailn/a

Height - Detailnot available

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Meters5.28

Length overall - Meters5.59

Length overall - Inches208

Length overall - Inches22

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet18

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches4

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail25 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail31 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters94.64

Fuel tank capacity - Liters117.35

Fuel tank capacity - Gal25

Fuel tank capacity - Gal31

Engine max125 hp

Engine max200 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standardMotorGuide? 12V, 46 lb. thrust trolling motor w/ removable mount

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Water capacityn/a

Water capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1150 lbs

Maximum capacity1,560 lbs

Maximum people5 persons

Maximum people6 (915 lbs.)

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailCustom factory matched trailer

Trailer - DetailCustom, factory-matched

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over allw/ Swing-Away: 20 ft. 7 in. w/o Swing-Away: 22 ft. 3 in

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - Width97 in

ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 vs ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 or the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006?

For trailering, the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 has the edge at 166 lbs dry weight versus 1 402 lbs for the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 tops out at 125 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 measures 96" wide, compared to 85" for the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 or the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006?

The ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 has the bigger tank at 31 gallons, versus 25 gallons on the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005. That 6-gallon difference translates to roughly 18–30 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 and ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 and the ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 are built by ProCraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← ProCraft 170 Combo 2005 full specs ← ProCraft 181 Combo 2006 full specs