When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Boundary Waters 275 2008 and the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2009 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 Boundary Waters 275 2008 measures 27,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 10,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2009 at 17,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Boundary Waters 275 2008 tips the scales at 5 125 lbs — 5 110 lbs more than the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2009 at 15 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 200 hp, the Premier Boats Boundary Waters 275 2008 has a 140-hp advantage over the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2009'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 Boundary Waters 275 2008 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2009 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 Boundary Waters 275 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Premier Boats Boundary Waters 275 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 27,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats Explorer 171 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.