Well my opinion is biased since I have a similar set up to yours. I have a 17 ft Xpress with a 90 Yamaha. Don't ge me wrong, I love this boat, as I have done very well out of it. Last year, I won my bass Club's AOY by a fairly wide margin, including 2 wins, 2 - 2nds, 5 - 3rds and won the Championship out of the smallest and slowest boat in the club. It will handle bad water without making me feel unsafe, but it will punish you. Not as bad ad a flat bottom type boat, as this one does have a padded hull.

Pros on 17' -- I can fish super skinny water and get into places that are not possible with most larger boat. It is very effecient on gas, both running down the lake and pulling to and from the lake. Cost of ownership. I only paid $9000 for it in 2005. It is a 2004 model boat and motor. You probably couldn't get a 20' boat without a motor that was a 1 1/2 old for that price.

Pros on 20' -- Larger casting decks, more stable platform, way more storage, larger livewells, much softer in rough water, doesn't blow around in the wind as bad, you can cruise around 3500-4000 rpms at the same speed that I have to be WFO to achieve.

If money were no object, I would most definitely have the 20' boat.

It cost more to own a bigger boat that is for sure! I went from a 17' to my now 21' boat and I would never want to go back.

Completely depends on where you fish. If you're fishing big lakes often, no doubt you'll be glad you have a 20 footer.

Depends on your fishing style. Smaller is cheaper all the way around. I'm a shallow water power fisherman,fish solo,and prefer smaller boats to avoid bumping cover. I fun fish,so I don't "have" to run big water like the tournament guys. So gimmee a smaller boat so I can afford my GLX rods and Steez reels.

Yeah,what he said.
Mine, Triton TR 186.

18ft boat with a 150 would be a good all around imo

I had to change from a 14.5 to 19.5 simple because i needed room for the fishing junk. It is nice being a little more organized.

One thing that I just thought about. A bigger boat CAN make a good fisherman better with the things that it will allow you to do. i.e. make longer runs in rougher water (not eliminate some water because of rough conditions), fish more stable in the wind, carry more gear, among many many others.

It can NOT however, make a bad fisherman good. That takes lots and lots of time and practice along with ability.

I love my 20' Champion I have no problems in timber. Gives me comfort to know if that squawl comes up I have enough boat to get me home.

By the way, they don't have to suck the fuel if you don't put your foot in it and you become a patient fisherman. I put $50 in my Champion and fish 3 to 5 times. I came out of an XR-6 so my EFI is killer on fuel.

It's all in what you want.

Oh, and I have a friend at the lake that has a Super Skeeter that we fish out of on nice calm day's, and I would own one of those in a heart beat for the fun of it.

Well, good question.
I have a 17ft/115hp and a 20ft/250hp
The smaller boat is old and beat up so I just kept it when I got my big boat. I still prefer my small boat in a few situations, but honestly if you can afford it, get the big boat- you just have more space, comfort, ability to fish larger bodies of water, etc.
So much depends on your situation and style of fishing-just go with what you think is best for you.

You can't win a tourney without at least a 20 footer and a 225. That's a plain fact! And you won't even place if you don't have a sick jersey on! Everyone knows that....

I have been in all size of boats in really bad conditions.

I have "managed" to make it home in smaller boats.. sore, tired wet and smooth wore out...

when i was younger i didnt mind as much.

but years of abusing my body, including some from riding in rough waters... I now have a bad disk in my back.. hitting bottom is very painful, as I can hear my vertebrate clanking when hitting big waves.

I LOVE to fish backwaters, shallows and heavy cover, so I understand the advantage of a smaller boat in those situations.

I would rather send time manuvering a big boat through tight spaces, than gettin beat to death in a smaller boat. So if i have a choice I will be purchasing a 19-22 footer with my next boat.

If i find a HELUVA deal on a smaller really nice boat, I will be controlled by weather and impoundment size.

I've had a 10ft bass buster, a 14' jon, an 18 ft Xpress, and now a 20ft Triton. I can think of 1 time I missed the smaller boats and that was when I ran aground in shallow water and my boat is HEAVY trying to push back off hahahah.

It's more stable, cuts through rough water great, cruises right across the wakes of other boats at 50 mph without even a hiccup, it's faster, much more stable, and I have room for all of my stuff plus a co-angler without ever tripping all of each others stuff.

I need to tell my wife this! Its just in time for Christmas!

went from a 18'6" to a 20'2" boat in the begining of the summer and God willing I won't ever go back to a smaller boat as my primary rig. 15-20mph winds are not as bad I used to think they are, lol...

Though I would like to have an 18' tin boat for back water creek and river fishing as a secondary rig...