When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 161 XL 2013 and the Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2008 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 Pro Angler 161 XL 2013 at 16,0 ft versus Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2008 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 161 XL 2013 tips the scales at 935 lbs — 802 lbs more than the Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2008 at 133 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 135 hp, the Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2008 has a 60-hp advantage over the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 161 XL 2013's 75-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2008 carries 24 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 161 XL 2013. 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 Ultima 172 2008 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 161 XL 2013 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 Ultima 172 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2008 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 13 lbs per hp for the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 161 XL 2013. 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 Ultima 172 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Smoker Craft Pro Angler 161 XL 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.