When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the SeaArk BayFisher 2013 and the SeaArk CRX 186 2012 are modified vee 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 — SeaArk BayFisher 2013 at 20,1 ft versus SeaArk CRX 186 2012 at 18,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the SeaArk BayFisher 2013 tips the scales at 119 lbs — 108 lbs more than the SeaArk CRX 186 2012 at 11 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 — 140 hp for the SeaArk BayFisher 2013 and 140 hp for the SeaArk CRX 186 2012. 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 SeaArk CRX 186 2012 carries 25 gallons versus 3 gallons in the SeaArk BayFisher 2013. 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 SeaArk BayFisher 2013 is rated for 6 passengers, while the SeaArk CRX 186 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the SeaArk BayFisher 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the SeaArk BayFisher 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 20,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The SeaArk CRX 186 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.