When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Smoker Craft Pro Bass 171 2008 and the Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2009 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 Bass 171 2008 at 17,0 ft versus Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2009 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Smoker Craft Pro Bass 171 2008 tips the scales at 1 075 lbs — 942 lbs more than the Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2009 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 Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2009 tops out at 140 hp. Engine specs for the Smoker Craft Pro Bass 171 2008 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 21 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 2009 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Smoker Craft Pro Bass 171 2008 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Smoker Craft Ultima 172 2009 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 Bass 171 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.