Matching a deep vee Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 against a modified vee Smoker Craft Resorter 161 2009 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 at 14,2 ft versus Smoker Craft Resorter 161 2009 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Smoker Craft Resorter 161 2009 tips the scales at 725 lbs — 330 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 60 hp, the Smoker Craft Resorter 161 2009 has a 25-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 Resorter 161 2009 is rated for 5 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 Resorter 161 2009 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Smoker Craft 14 Big Fish 2013 comes in at 11 lbs per hp versus 12 lbs per hp for the Smoker Craft Resorter 161 2009. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.