When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Qwest 720 XRE Cruise 2008 and the Qwest 7518 Sport Deluxe 2011 are pontoon designs with aluminum 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 — Qwest 720 XRE Cruise 2008 at 19,0 ft versus Qwest 7518 Sport Deluxe 2011 at 18,5 ft. At 1 425 lbs and 1 325 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 75 hp, the Qwest 720 XRE Cruise 2008 has a 69-hp advantage over the Qwest 7518 Sport Deluxe 2011's 6-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 Qwest 720 XRE Cruise 2008 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Qwest 7518 Sport Deluxe 2011 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Qwest 720 XRE Cruise 2008 could be the deciding factor.
One place where both boats are genuinely identical is tube construction: both run 2 aluminum tubes at 23" diameter. That shared spec means stability and buoyancy characteristics are closely matched — the ride difference you'll feel between them comes primarily from deck length, weight distribution, and motor choice.
Bottom line: Choose the Qwest 720 XRE Cruise 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 19,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Qwest 7518 Sport Deluxe 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.