Both the Scout 160 Sportfish 2009 and the Scout 175 Sportfish 2008 are modified-V designs, the first built in fibreglass and the second in composite, so 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 - Scout 160 Sportfish 2009 at 15,0 ft versus Scout 175 Sportfish 2008 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Scout 175 Sportfish 2008 tips the scales at 1 260 lbs - 320 lbs less than the Scout 160 Sportfish 2009 at 940 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 - 70 hp for the Scout 160 Sportfish 2009 and 90 hp for the Scout 175 Sportfish 2008. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Scout 175 Sportfish 2008 carries 32 gallons versus 18 gallons in the Scout 160 Sportfish 2009. 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 Scout 175 Sportfish 2008 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Scout 160 Sportfish 2009 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Scout 175 Sportfish 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Scout 160 Sportfish 2009 comes in at 13 lbs per hp versus 14 lbs per hp for the Scout 175 Sportfish 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 Scout 175 Sportfish 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 6 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Scout 160 Sportfish 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.