When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2011 and the Smoker Craft Millentia 172 2010 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2011 at 18,9 ft versus Smoker Craft Millentia 172 2010 at 17,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Smoker Craft Millentia 172 2010 tips the scales at 1 325 lbs — 450 lbs less than the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2011 at 875 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 140 hp, the Smoker Craft Millentia 172 2010 has a 50-hp advantage over the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2011's 90-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 2011 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Smoker Craft Millentia 172 2010 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 Freedom 180 TL 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Smoker Craft Freedom 180 TL 2011 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 Millentia 172 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.