When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Elite 250 2012 and the Premier Boats Intrigue 310 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 Intrigue 310 2008 measures 31,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 5,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats Elite 250 2012 at 25,4 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Intrigue 310 2008 tips the scales at 3 275 lbs — 2 860 lbs less than the Premier Boats Elite 250 2012 at 415 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 320 hp, the Premier Boats Elite 250 2012 has a 120-hp advantage over the Premier Boats Intrigue 310 2008's 200-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Premier Boats Elite 250 2012 carries 25 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Premier Boats Intrigue 310 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Premier Boats Intrigue 310 2008 is rated for 21 passengers, while the Premier Boats Elite 250 2012 caps at 15. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats Intrigue 310 2008 could be the deciding factor.