The Qwest 716 RE Cruise 2008 vs Qwest 717 XRE Fish 2007 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Qwest 716 RE Cruise 2008 at 16,0 ft versus Qwest 717 XRE Fish 2007 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Qwest 717 XRE Fish 2007 tips the scales at 1 275 lbs — 150 lbs less than the Qwest 716 RE Cruise 2008 at 1 125 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 — 40 hp for the Qwest 716 RE Cruise 2008 and 50 hp for the Qwest 717 XRE Fish 2007. 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 Qwest 717 XRE Fish 2007 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Qwest 716 RE Cruise 2008 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Qwest 717 XRE Fish 2007 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Qwest 717 XRE Fish 2007 comes in at 26 lbs per hp versus 28 lbs per hp for the Qwest 716 RE Cruise 2008. 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 Qwest 717 XRE Fish 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Qwest 716 RE Cruise 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.