When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Smoker Craft Bass & Bay 2072 CC 2008 and the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 171 2009 are modified vee designs with aluminum 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 Smoker Craft Pro Angler 171 2009 measures 16,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 14,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Smoker Craft Bass & Bay 2072 CC 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Smoker Craft Bass & Bay 2072 CC 2008 tips the scales at 1 225 lbs — 1 107 lbs more than the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 171 2009 at 118 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 125 hp for the Smoker Craft Bass & Bay 2072 CC 2008 and 140 hp for the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 171 2009. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Smoker Craft Bass & Bay 2072 CC 2008 carries 34 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 171 2009. 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 Smoker Craft Bass & Bay 2072 CC 2008 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 171 2009 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Smoker Craft Bass & Bay 2072 CC 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Smoker Craft Pro Angler 171 2009 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 10 lbs per hp for the Smoker Craft Bass & Bay 2072 CC 2008. 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Smoker Craft Bass & Bay 2072 CC 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Smoker Craft Pro Angler 171 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.