The Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2007 vs Palm Beach Pontoons 220 Echelon Ltd SE 2011 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Palm Beach Pontoons 220 Echelon Ltd SE 2011 measures 22,0 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 5,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2007 at 17,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Palm Beach Pontoons 220 Echelon Ltd SE 2011 tips the scales at 2 425 lbs — 1 050 lbs less than the Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2007 at 1 375 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 115 hp, the Palm Beach Pontoons 220 Echelon Ltd SE 2011 has a 25-hp advantage over the Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2007's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Palm Beach Pontoons 220 Echelon Ltd SE 2011 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2007 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Palm Beach Pontoons 220 Echelon Ltd SE 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Palm Beach Pontoons 220 Echelon Ltd SE 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.