When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Weldcraft Marine 17 Angler SE 2009 and the Weldcraft Marine 173 2010 are deep vee 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 — Weldcraft Marine 17 Angler SE 2009 at 17,3 ft versus Weldcraft Marine 173 2010 at 17,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Weldcraft Marine 173 2010 tips the scales at 1 305 lbs — 330 lbs less than the Weldcraft Marine 17 Angler SE 2009 at 975 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 115 hp, the Weldcraft Marine 173 2010 has a 25-hp advantage over the Weldcraft Marine 17 Angler SE 2009's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Weldcraft Marine 173 2010 carries 42 gallons versus 21 gallons in the Weldcraft Marine 17 Angler SE 2009. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 5 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Weldcraft Marine 17 Angler SE 2009 comes in at 11 lbs per hp versus 11 lbs per hp for the Weldcraft Marine 173 2010. 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.