Both the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2012 and the Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2008 are modified-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so 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 Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2008 measures 26,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 9,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2012 at 17,0 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2008 tips the scales at 4 900 lbs - 3 750 lbs less than the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2012 at 1 150 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 450 hp, the Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2008 has a 360-hp advantage over the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2012's 90-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2008 carries 150 gallons versus 13 gallons in the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2008 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2008 could be the deciding factor.