When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Alante 231 RE 2011 and the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 are pontoon 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Premier Boats Alante 231 RE 2011 measures 23,3 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 7,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 at 16,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Alante 231 RE 2011 tips the scales at 265 lbs — 256 lbs more than the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 at 9 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 140 hp, the Premier Boats Alante 231 RE 2011 has a 80-hp advantage over the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008's 60-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 Premier Boats Alante 231 RE 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats Alante 231 RE 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Premier Boats Alante 231 RE 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 23,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.