When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Skeeter SL 190 2012 and the Skeeter SX 170 2009 are modified vee designs with composite 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 — Skeeter SL 190 2012 at 18,4 ft versus Skeeter SX 170 2009 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Skeeter SX 170 2009 tips the scales at 119 lbs — 104 lbs less than the Skeeter SL 190 2012 at 15 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 175 hp, the Skeeter SL 190 2012 has a 60-hp advantage over the Skeeter SX 170 2009's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 3 gal and 2 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Skeeter SL 190 2012 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Skeeter SX 170 2009 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Skeeter SL 190 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Skeeter SL 190 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 18,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Skeeter SX 170 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.