Both the Premier Boats Boundary Waters 310 2007 and the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2012 are pontoon designs, both built in aluminium, 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 Premier Boats Boundary Waters 310 2007 measures 31,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 13,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2012 at 17,4 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Boundary Waters 310 2007 tips the scales at 3 800 lbs - 2 200 lbs more than the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2012 at 1 600 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 250 hp, the Premier Boats Boundary Waters 310 2007 has a 190-hp advantage over the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2012's 60-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 30 gal and 27 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Premier Boats Boundary Waters 310 2007 is rated for 23 passengers, while the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats Boundary Waters 310 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Premier Boats Boundary Waters 310 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 23 passengers and at 31,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats Explorer 171 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.