When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Weeres Cadet Fish 160 2011 and the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 are pontoon 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 — Weeres Cadet Fish 160 2011 at 16,0 ft versus Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 at 18,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 tips the scales at 1 425 lbs — 1 310 lbs less than the Weeres Cadet Fish 160 2011 at 115 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 75 hp, the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 has a 25-hp advantage over the Weeres Cadet Fish 160 2011'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 Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Weeres Cadet Fish 160 2011 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 18,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Weeres Cadet Fish 160 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.