When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Southern Skimmer 1770 Skiff 2009 and the Southern Skimmer 24 Skiff 2008 are modified vee designs with composite 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Southern Skimmer 24 Skiff 2008 measures 23,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 5,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Southern Skimmer 1770 Skiff 2009 at 17,1 feet (2009). At 95 lbs and 18 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Southern Skimmer 24 Skiff 2008 has a 75-hp advantage over the Southern Skimmer 1770 Skiff 2009's 75-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 26 gal and 26 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Southern Skimmer 24 Skiff 2008 is rated for 18 passengers, while the Southern Skimmer 1770 Skiff 2009 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Southern Skimmer 24 Skiff 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Southern Skimmer 24 Skiff 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 18 passengers and at 23,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Southern Skimmer 1770 Skiff 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.