The Premier Boats Castaway 251 2006 vs Premier Boats SunSation 240 RE 2011 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Premier Boats Castaway 251 2006 at 26,0 ft versus Premier Boats SunSation 240 RE 2011 at 24,3 ft. At 245 lbs and 275 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 140 hp for the Premier Boats Castaway 251 2006 and 150 hp for the Premier Boats SunSation 240 RE 2011. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Premier Boats Castaway 251 2006 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Premier Boats SunSation 240 RE 2011 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats Castaway 251 2006 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Premier Boats Castaway 251 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats SunSation 240 RE 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.