When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the ProGator 186 F/S 2012 and the ProGator Lil' Gator 2012 are modified vee designs with composite 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — ProGator 186 F/S 2012 at 18,5 ft versus ProGator Lil' Gator 2012 at 15,8 ft. At 135 lbs and 35 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 175 hp, the ProGator 186 F/S 2012 has a 115-hp advantage over the ProGator Lil' Gator 2012's 60-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 ProGator 186 F/S 2012 is rated for 5 passengers, while the ProGator Lil' Gator 2012 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the ProGator 186 F/S 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the ProGator 186 F/S 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 18,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The ProGator Lil' Gator 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.