The Scout 170 Costa 2009 is a modified-V design and the Scout 350 Abaco 2012 is a deep-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Scout 350 Abaco 2012 measures 38,8 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 22,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Scout 170 Costa 2009 at 16,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Scout 350 Abaco 2012 tips the scales at 13 400 lbs - 12 420 lbs less than the Scout 170 Costa 2009 at 980 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 700 hp, the Scout 350 Abaco 2012 has a 585-hp advantage over the Scout 170 Costa 2009's 115-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Scout 350 Abaco 2012 carries 330 gallons versus 30 gallons in the Scout 170 Costa 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 350 Abaco 2012 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Scout 170 Costa 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 350 Abaco 2012 could be the deciding factor.