Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 vs Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 or the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009?

The Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 is the longer of the two at 18,0 feet overall. The Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 16,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 has a documented max rating of 40 hp. Engine specifications for the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 is certified for 1. 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.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 measures 94" wide, compared to 86" for the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Are the Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 and Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 and the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 are built by Weld-Craft. 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.

Boat Comparison

Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 vs Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009

Weld-Craft

Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008

2008

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Weld-Craft

Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 vs Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a flat Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 against a deep vee Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

The Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 carries a rated maximum of 40 hp. Engine data for the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeWeld-Craft

MakeWeldcraft Marine

ModelRL 70 (18 ft.)

Model20 SJ

Model Year2008

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam94 in

Beam86 in

Beam - Meters2.39

Beam - Meters2.18

Beam - Inches94

Beam - Inches86

Height - DetailSide: 26 in

Height - Detail30 x 0.125 in. sides

Height - Meters0.66

Height - Meters0

Height - Inches26

Height - Inches0.125

Length - Feet18

Length - Feet2

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Meters6.1

Length overall - Inches216

Length overall - Inches24

Deadrisenot available

Deadrise22.5° bow entry 16° forward entry 14° transom

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail2,150 lbs

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg975.22

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.215

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail86 x 0.160 in

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typeFlat

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeNone

Drive typeJet Drive

Engine max40 hp (manual)

Engine maxnot available

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMercury

Engine modelnot available

Engine model200 OptiMax SJ

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail62 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters234.7

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal62

Operational Info

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity6 / 980 lbs

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people1,300 lbs

Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 vs Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 or the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009?

The Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 is the longer of the two at 18,0 feet overall. The Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 16,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 has a documented max rating of 40 hp. Engine specifications for the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 is certified for 1. 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 measures 94" wide, compared to 86" for the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Are the Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 and Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 and the Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 are built by Weld-Craft. 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.

← Weld-Craft RL 70 (18 ft.) 2008 full specs ← Weldcraft Marine 20 SJ 2009 full specs