When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Stratos 1760 DV 2012 and the Stratos 326 XF 2012 are modified vee designs with fiberglass 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 — Stratos 1760 DV 2012 at 17,5 ft versus Stratos 326 XF 2012 at 20,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Stratos 326 XF 2012 tips the scales at 2 425 lbs — 2 276 lbs less than the Stratos 1760 DV 2012 at 149 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 225 hp, the Stratos 326 XF 2012 has a 110-hp advantage over the Stratos 1760 DV 2012's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 3 gal and 5 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Stratos 326 XF 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Stratos 1760 DV 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stratos 326 XF 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Stratos 326 XF 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 20,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Stratos 1760 DV 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.