When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Cast-A-Way 251 2007 and the Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011 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 Cast-A-Way 251 2007 measures 24,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 6,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011 at 17,3 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Cast-A-Way 251 2007 tips the scales at 245 lbs — 230 lbs more than the Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011 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 150 hp, the Premier Boats Cast-A-Way 251 2007 has a 100-hp advantage over the Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011's 50-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 28 gal and 28 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Premier Boats Cast-A-Way 251 2007 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats Cast-A-Way 251 2007 could be the deciding factor.