Both the Sea-Doo Switch 16 - 170 hp 2027 and the Sea-Doo Switch Fish Compact - 170 hp 2027 are tri-hull designs, both built in polytec, 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?

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 170 hp for the Sea-Doo Switch 16 - 170 hp 2027 and 170 hp for the Sea-Doo Switch Fish Compact - 170 hp 2027. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 29 gal and 29 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sea-Doo Switch 16 - 170 hp 2027 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Sea-Doo Switch Fish Compact - 170 hp 2027 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea-Doo Switch 16 - 170 hp 2027 could be the deciding factor.