When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Weldcraft Marine 173 Rebel 2008 and the Weldcraft Marine 202 Rebel 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Weldcraft Marine 173 Rebel 2008 measures 17,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 15,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Weldcraft Marine 202 Rebel 2010 at 2,0 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Weldcraft Marine 173 Rebel 2008 tips the scales at 1 325 lbs — 1 160 lbs more than the Weldcraft Marine 202 Rebel 2010 at 165 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 225 hp, the Weldcraft Marine 202 Rebel 2010 has a 110-hp advantage over the Weldcraft Marine 173 Rebel 2008's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 42 gal and 42 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Weldcraft Marine 202 Rebel 2010 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Weldcraft Marine 173 Rebel 2008 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Weldcraft Marine 202 Rebel 2010 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Weldcraft Marine 202 Rebel 2010 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 12 lbs per hp for the Weldcraft Marine 173 Rebel 2008. 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Weldcraft Marine 202 Rebel 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Weldcraft Marine 173 Rebel 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.