When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Skeeter TZX 170 2012 and the Skeeter ZX 20 Bay 2010 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 TZX 170 2012 at 17,0 ft versus Skeeter ZX 20 Bay 2010 at 19,7 ft. At 135 lbs and 175 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Skeeter ZX 20 Bay 2010 has a 60-hp advantage over the Skeeter TZX 170 2012's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Skeeter ZX 20 Bay 2010 carries 45 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Skeeter TZX 170 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 Skeeter ZX 20 Bay 2010 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Skeeter TZX 170 2012 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Skeeter ZX 20 Bay 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Skeeter ZX 20 Bay 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 19,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Skeeter TZX 170 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.