When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Yar-Craft 1785 BT 2009 and the Yar-Craft 186 FSX 2013 are modified 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 — Yar-Craft 1785 BT 2009 at 17,4 ft versus Yar-Craft 186 FSX 2013 at 18,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Yar-Craft 1785 BT 2009 tips the scales at 1 375 lbs — 1 354 lbs more than the Yar-Craft 186 FSX 2013 at 21 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 200 hp, the Yar-Craft 186 FSX 2013 has a 125-hp advantage over the Yar-Craft 1785 BT 2009's 75-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 36 gal and 34 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 6 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.