The Smoker Craft M-8520 C-RE 2006 vs Smoker Craft V170 OB Fish-n-Ski 2004 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 90 hp, the Smoker Craft M-8520 C-RE 2006 has a 77-hp advantage over the Smoker Craft V170 OB Fish-n-Ski 2004's 13-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 23 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Smoker Craft M-8520 C-RE 2006 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Smoker Craft V170 OB Fish-n-Ski 2004 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Smoker Craft M-8520 C-RE 2006 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Smoker Craft M-8520 C-RE 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Smoker Craft V170 OB Fish-n-Ski 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.