The Sea Chaser 160 FS 2011 vs Sea Chaser 26 LX 2019 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Sea Chaser 26 LX 2019 has a 210-hp advantage over the Sea Chaser 160 FS 2011's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sea Chaser 26 LX 2019 carries 84 gallons versus 25 gallons in the Sea Chaser 160 FS 2011. 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 Sea Chaser 26 LX 2019 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Sea Chaser 160 FS 2011 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Chaser 26 LX 2019 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Chaser 26 LX 2019 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Chaser 160 FS 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.