When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Tige 20i 2008 and the Tige 20V 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Tige 20i 2008 at 2,0 ft versus Tige 20V 2008 at 2,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Tige 20V 2008 tips the scales at 3 478 lbs — 210 lbs less than the Tige 20i 2008 at 3 268 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 400 hp for the Tige 20i 2008 and 400 hp for the Tige 20V 2008. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 3 gal and 3 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Tige 20V 2008 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Tige 20i 2008 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Tige 20V 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Tige 20i 2008 comes in at 8 lbs per hp versus 9 lbs per hp for the Tige 20V 2008. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Bottom line: Choose the Tige 20V 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Tige 20i 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.