When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the War Eagle 648VS 2009 and the War Eagle 962 Tomahawk 2006 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — War Eagle 648VS 2009 at 16,3 ft versus War Eagle 962 Tomahawk 2006 at 19,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the War Eagle 648VS 2009 tips the scales at 475 lbs — 463 lbs more than the War Eagle 962 Tomahawk 2006 at 12 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 962 Tomahawk 2006 has a 110-hp advantage over the War Eagle 648VS 2009's 40-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 962 Tomahawk 2006 is rated for 5 passengers, while the War Eagle 648VS 2009 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 962 Tomahawk 2006 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the War Eagle 962 Tomahawk 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 19,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The War Eagle 648VS 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.