When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Ultracraft 160T 2010 and the Ultracraft 189FS 2012 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Ultracraft 160T 2010 at 16,2 ft versus Ultracraft 189FS 2012 at 18,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Ultracraft 189FS 2012 tips the scales at 178 lbs — 113 lbs less than the Ultracraft 160T 2010 at 65 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 60 hp, the Ultracraft 160T 2010 has a 45-hp advantage over the Ultracraft 189FS 2012's 15-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Ultracraft 189FS 2012 carries 35 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Ultracraft 160T 2010. 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 Ultracraft 189FS 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Ultracraft 160T 2010 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Ultracraft 189FS 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Ultracraft 189FS 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 18,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Ultracraft 160T 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.