When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2007 and the Premier Boats SunSation 180 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Premier Boats Explorer 171 2007 at 17,0 ft versus Premier Boats SunSation 180 RE 2011 at 18,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2007 tips the scales at 875 lbs — 860 lbs more than the Premier Boats SunSation 180 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 50 hp for the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2007 and 60 hp for the Premier Boats SunSation 180 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.

Both boats are rated for 7 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.