The Seahunter Tournament 35 2017 vs Seahunter Tournament 45 2016 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 400 hp, the Seahunter Tournament 45 2016 has a 50-hp advantage over the Seahunter Tournament 35 2017's 350-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Seahunter Tournament 45 2016 carries 78 gallons versus 43 gallons in the Seahunter Tournament 35 2017. 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 Seahunter Tournament 45 2016 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Seahunter Tournament 35 2017 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Seahunter Tournament 45 2016 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Seahunter Tournament 45 2016 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 45,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Seahunter Tournament 35 2017 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.