When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Triton Boats 1550 SS 2009 and the Triton Boats AV167W SUV 2011 are modified vee designs with aluminum 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?

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 25 hp for the Triton Boats 1550 SS 2009 and 20 hp for the Triton Boats AV167W SUV 2011. 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Triton Boats AV167W SUV 2011 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Triton Boats 1550 SS 2009 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Triton Boats AV167W SUV 2011 could be the deciding factor.