The Premier Boats 180 Explorer 2004 vs Premier Boats 250 Legend RE 2004 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 Premier Boats 250 Legend RE 2004 measures 24,0 feet overall (2004), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats 180 Explorer 2004 at 18,0 feet (2004). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats 250 Legend RE 2004 tips the scales at 245 lbs — 234 lbs less than the Premier Boats 180 Explorer 2004 at 11 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Premier Boats 250 Legend RE 2004 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Premier Boats 180 Explorer 2004 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats 250 Legend RE 2004 could be the deciding factor.
Both are inflatable designs, which means they pack down for compact storage, can be carried in a bag, and are dramatically lighter than equivalent rigid hulls. The trade-off is setup time and the need to monitor tube pressure regularly. Tube diameter differs: 23 in on the Premier Boats 180 Explorer 2004 vs 25 in on the Premier Boats 250 Legend RE 2004 — larger tubes generally mean more buoyancy and a drier, more stable ride.
Bottom line: Choose the Premier Boats 250 Legend RE 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats 180 Explorer 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.