When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Sundance F19FLX 2013 and the Sundance SV171 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 F19FLX 2013 at 18,8 ft versus Sundance SV171 2012 at 17,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sundance SV171 2012 tips the scales at 125 lbs — 114 lbs less than the Sundance F19FLX 2013 at 11 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 Sundance SV171 2012 has a 25-hp advantage over the Sundance F19FLX 2013's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sundance SV171 2012 carries 34 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Sundance F19FLX 2013. 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 Sundance F19FLX 2013 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Sundance SV171 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sundance F19FLX 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sundance F19FLX 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 18,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sundance SV171 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.