Matching a modified vee Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2010 against a deep vee Triton Boats DV 17 Liberty 2009 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2010 at 18,5 ft versus Triton Boats DV 17 Liberty 2009 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2010 tips the scales at 1 202 lbs — 1 189 lbs more than the Triton Boats DV 17 Liberty 2009 at 13 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 125 hp, the Triton Boats DV 17 Liberty 2009 has a 35-hp advantage over the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2010'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 — 36 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 Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2010 is rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats DV 17 Liberty 2009 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 550 passengers and at 18,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Triton Boats DV 17 Liberty 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.