Matching a pontoon Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2011 against a modified vee Stabicraft 859 Supercab Weekender 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2011 measures 17,2 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 14,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Stabicraft 859 Supercab Weekender 2012 at 3,0 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Stabicraft 859 Supercab Weekender 2012 tips the scales at 8 708 lbs — 8 685 lbs less than the Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2011 at 23 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 450 hp, the Stabicraft 859 Supercab Weekender 2012 has a 360-hp advantage over the Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2011's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Stabicraft 859 Supercab Weekender 2012 carries 205 gallons versus 25 gallons in the Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2011. 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 Stabicraft 859 Supercab Weekender 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2011 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stabicraft 859 Supercab Weekender 2012 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2011 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 19 lbs per hp for the Stabicraft 859 Supercab Weekender 2012. 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 Stabicraft 859 Supercab Weekender 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 3,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.