When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Stratos 186 XT 2008 and the Stratos 201 XL 2008 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?
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 250 hp, the Stratos 201 XL 2008 has a 135-hp advantage over the Stratos 186 XT 2008's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Stratos 186 XT 2008 carries 23 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Stratos 201 XL 2008. 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 Stratos 201 XL 2008 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Stratos 186 XT 2008 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stratos 201 XL 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Stratos 201 XL 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Stratos 186 XT 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.