When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 171 2009 and the Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2013 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 171 2009 at 16,0 ft versus Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2013 at 17,3 ft. At 118 lbs and 135 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 140 hp for the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 171 2009 and 150 hp for the Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2013. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2013 is rated for 7 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 Ultima 172 2013 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 1 lbs per hp for the Smoker Craft Ultima 172 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.