When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Weld-Craft 1852 F Bass 2011 and the Weld-Craft RL 60 (17 ft.) 2009 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?

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 115 hp, the Weld-Craft 1852 F Bass 2011 has a 75-hp advantage over the Weld-Craft RL 60 (17 ft.) 2009's 40-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.