Both the War Eagle 17 Foot - 754DSV 2007 and the War Eagle 542 FD 2005 are flat-bottom designs, both built in aluminium, so 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?
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 50 hp, the War Eagle 17 Foot - 754DSV 2007 has a 25-hp advantage over the War Eagle 542 FD 2005's 25-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The War Eagle 17 Foot - 754DSV 2007 is rated for 5 passengers, while the War Eagle 542 FD 2005 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the War Eagle 17 Foot - 754DSV 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the War Eagle 17 Foot - 754DSV 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 5 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The War Eagle 542 FD 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.