When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Vectra 1580 CR 2009 and the Vectra V-172 OB Fish 2007 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 — Vectra 1580 CR 2009 at 15,0 ft versus Vectra V-172 OB Fish 2007 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Vectra 1580 CR 2009 tips the scales at 1 948 lbs — 1 796 lbs more than the Vectra V-172 OB Fish 2007 at 152 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 — 115 hp for the Vectra 1580 CR 2009 and 130 hp for the Vectra V-172 OB Fish 2007. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Vectra 1580 CR 2009 carries 31 gallons versus 23 gallons in the Vectra V-172 OB Fish 2007. 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 Vectra 1580 CR 2009 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Vectra V-172 OB Fish 2007 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Vectra 1580 CR 2009 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Vectra V-172 OB Fish 2007 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 17 lbs per hp for the Vectra 1580 CR 2009. 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 Vectra 1580 CR 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 15,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Vectra V-172 OB Fish 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.