The Sun Tracker Fishin' Barge 22 XP3 2017 vs Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX 2016 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Sun Tracker Fishin' Barge 22 XP3 2017 has a 90-hp advantage over the Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX 2016's 60-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sun Tracker Fishin' Barge 22 XP3 2017 carries 52 gallons versus 32 gallons in the Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX 2016. 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 Sun Tracker Fishin' Barge 22 XP3 2017 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX 2016 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sun Tracker Fishin' Barge 22 XP3 2017 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sun Tracker Fishin' Barge 22 XP3 2017 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sun Tracker Party Barge 18 DLX 2016 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.