When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Seaway Boats 18 Sportsman 2012 and the Seaway Boats Coastal Cruiser 2011 are deep vee designs with fiberglass 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Seaway Boats Coastal Cruiser 2011 measures 24,0 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Seaway Boats 18 Sportsman 2012 at 18,0 feet (2012). At 11 lbs and 45 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The Seaway Boats Coastal Cruiser 2011 tops out at 175 hp. Engine specs for the Seaway Boats 18 Sportsman 2012 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Seaway Boats Coastal Cruiser 2011 carries 8 gallons versus 4 gallons in the Seaway Boats 18 Sportsman 2012. 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 Seaway Boats Coastal Cruiser 2011 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Seaway Boats 18 Sportsman 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Seaway Boats Coastal Cruiser 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Seaway Boats Coastal Cruiser 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Seaway Boats 18 Sportsman 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.