The Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2012 is a modified-V design and the Stabicraft 1850 Fisher 2011 is a pontoon design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2012 at 17,2 ft versus Stabicraft 1850 Fisher 2011 at 18,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2012 tips the scales at 2 300 lbs - 206 lbs more than the Stabicraft 1850 Fisher 2011 at 2 094 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 115 hp, the Stabicraft 1850 Fisher 2011 has a 25-hp advantage over the Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2012's 90-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 25 gal and 27 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Stabicraft 1850 Fisher 2011 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stabicraft 1850 Fisher 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Stabicraft 1850 Fisher 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 6 passengers and at 18,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Stabicraft 1720 Matt Watson Signature 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.