When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Sundance B18CCR 2008 and the Sundance B20CCR 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 — Sundance B18CCR 2008 at 17,0 ft versus Sundance B20CCR 2012 at 19,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sundance B20CCR 2012 tips the scales at 1 525 lbs — 1 356 lbs less than the Sundance B18CCR 2008 at 169 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 130 hp, the Sundance B20CCR 2012 has a 40-hp advantage over the Sundance B18CCR 2008'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 — 33 gal and 33 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sundance B20CCR 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Sundance B18CCR 2008 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sundance B20CCR 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sundance B20CCR 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 19,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sundance B18CCR 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.