When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the War Eagle 17 Foot - 754LDV 2009 and the War Eagle 20 Foot - 2072LDBR 2007 are flat 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The War Eagle 17 Foot - 754LDV 2009 measures 17,6 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 15,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the War Eagle 20 Foot - 2072LDBR 2007 at 2,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the War Eagle 17 Foot - 754LDV 2009 tips the scales at 465 lbs — 372 lbs more than the War Eagle 20 Foot - 2072LDBR 2007 at 93 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 150 hp, the War Eagle 20 Foot - 2072LDBR 2007 has a 100-hp advantage over the War Eagle 17 Foot - 754LDV 2009's 50-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 20 Foot - 2072LDBR 2007 is rated for 6 passengers, while the War Eagle 17 Foot - 754LDV 2009 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the War Eagle 20 Foot - 2072LDBR 2007 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The War Eagle 20 Foot - 2072LDBR 2007 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 9 lbs per hp for the War Eagle 17 Foot - 754LDV 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.