Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 boat specs
Weeres
Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013
2013
View full specs →
VS
Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 boat specs
Weeres
Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011
2011
View full specs →

Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 vs Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 — A Close Look at Two Pontoons

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 and the Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 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 180 2013 at 18,3 ft versus Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 at 18,0 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 more than the Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 75 hp for the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 and 70 hp for the Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011. 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeWeeres
MakeWeeres
ModelCadet Fish 18
ModelSportsman Deluxe 18
Model Year2013
Model Year2011
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft
Beamnot available
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Inches96
Beam - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail1,250 lbs. 1,310 lbs. (25 in. tubes) 1,425 lbs. (3/4 center tube)
Weight - Detail1,150 lbs
Weight - kg646.37
Weight - kg521.63
Weight - lbs.1425
Weight - lbs.115
Length [deck]18 ft
Length [deck]18 ft. Enclosed: 15 ft. 6 in
Length - Feet18.25
Length - Feet18
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 3 in
Length overall - Detail18 ft
Length overall - Meters5.56
Length overall - Meters5.49
Length overall - Inches219
Length overall - Inches216
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail8 ft
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull typePontoon
Hull typePontoon
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameter23 in
Tube diameter23 in
Tube gauge0.080 in
Tube gauge0.080 in
Number of tubes2
Number of tubesnot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max75 hp 75 hp (25 in. tubes) 90 hp (3/4 center tube)
Engine max70 hp
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,310 lbs. 1,500 lbs. (25 in. tubes) 1,290 lbs. (3/4 center tube)
Maximum capacity2,185 lbs
Maximum people9 10 (25 in. tubes) 9 (3/4 center tube)
Maximum people12 or 1,580 lbs

Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 vs Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 or the Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011?
The Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 is the longer of the two at 18,3 feet overall. The Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 0,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 or the Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011?
For trailering, the Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 has the edge at 115 lbs dry weight versus 1 425 lbs for the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 is certified for 12. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Are the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 and Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Weeres Cadet Fish 180 2013 and the Weeres Sportsman Deluxe 180 2011 are built by Weeres. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.