The Triumph Boats 170 Sportsman 2012 is a deep-V design and the Triumph Boats 1700 Skiff 2011 is a flat-bottom design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably 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 - Triumph Boats 170 Sportsman 2012 at 16,8 ft versus Triumph Boats 1700 Skiff 2011 at 17,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Triumph Boats 1700 Skiff 2011 tips the scales at 1 400 lbs - 300 lbs less than the Triumph Boats 170 Sportsman 2012 at 1 100 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 - 75 hp for the Triumph Boats 170 Sportsman 2012 and 90 hp for the Triumph Boats 1700 Skiff 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 21 gal and 24 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Triumph Boats 1700 Skiff 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Triumph Boats 170 Sportsman 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Triumph Boats 1700 Skiff 2011 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Triumph Boats 170 Sportsman 2012 comes in at 15 lbs per hp versus 16 lbs per hp for the Triumph Boats 1700 Skiff 2011. 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.