When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011 and the Premier Boats SunSpree 200 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011 at 17,3 ft versus Premier Boats SunSpree 200 2008 at 19,0 ft. At 15 lbs and 105 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 75 hp, the Premier Boats SunSpree 200 2008 has a 25-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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Premier Boats SunSpree 200 2008 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats Explorer 171 RE 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Both are 2-tube and 2-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 Explorer 171 RE 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 17,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats SunSpree 200 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.