Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 boat specs
Smoker Craft
Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013
2013
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VS
Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 boat specs
Smoker Craft
Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012
2012
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Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 vs Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 against a modified vee Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 measures 18,9 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 4,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 at 14,2 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 tips the scales at 875 lbs — 480 lbs less than the Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 at 395 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 90 hp, the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 has a 55-hp advantage over the Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013's 35-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 18,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeSmoker Craft
MakeSmoker Craft
Model14 Big Fish
ModelFreedom 180 TL
Model Year2013
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam68 in
Beam89 in
Beam - Meters1.73
Beam - Meters2.26
Beam - Inches68
Beam - Inches89
Depth - Detail22 in
Depth - Detail22 in
Depth - Centimeters55.88
Depth - Centimeters55.88
Depth - Inches22
Depth - Inches22
Weight - Detail395 lbs
Weight - Detail875 lbs
Weight - kg179.17
Weight - kg396.89
Weight - lbs.395
Weight - lbs.875
Width [transom] - Detail60 in
Width [transom] - Detail85 in
Length - Feet14.17
Length - Feet18.92
Length overall - Detail14 ft. 2 in
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 11 in
Length overall - Meters4.32
Length overall - Meters5.77
Length overall - Inches17
Length overall - Inches227
Height [transom]not available
Height [transom]LS
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thickness0.06 in
Hull thicknessBottom: 0.100 in. Side: 0.060 in
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max35 hp
Engine max90 hp
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,100 lbs
Maximum capacity900 lbs
Maximum people4
Maximum people6

Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 vs Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 or the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012?
The Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,9 feet overall. The Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 comes in at 14,2 feet, making it roughly 4,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 or the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012?
For trailering, the Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 has the edge at 395 lbs dry weight versus 875 lbs for the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 is rated to a maximum of 90 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 tops out at 35 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 measures 89" wide, compared to 68" for the Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Are the Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 and Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 and the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2012 are built by Smoker Craft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.