When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 172 XL 2012 and the Smoker Craft Pro Mag 168 2012 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?

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Smoker Craft Pro Angler 172 XL 2012 has a 90-hp advantage over the Smoker Craft Pro Mag 168 2012's 60-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 Pro Angler 172 XL 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Smoker Craft Pro Mag 168 2012 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 Pro Angler 172 XL 2012 could be the deciding factor.