When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011 and the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 225 RE 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 SunSation LTD 225 RE 2009 measures 22,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 4,7 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 SunSation LTD 225 RE 2009 tips the scales at 265 lbs — 250 lbs less 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 140 hp, the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 225 RE 2009 has a 90-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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011 carries 28 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 225 RE 2009. 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 SunSation LTD 225 RE 2009 is rated for 12 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 SunSation LTD 225 RE 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Both are 2-tube and 23-tube pontoon designs respectively. Tube diameter and gauge affect stability and load capacity — more so than most buyers realize when comparing on paper.
Bottom line: Choose the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 225 RE 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.