Both the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 and the Premier Boats Solaris 160 2013 are pontoon designs, both built in aluminium, so 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 2008 at 16,0 ft versus Premier Boats Solaris 160 2013 at 16,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Solaris 160 2013 tips the scales at 1 450 lbs - 550 lbs less than the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 at 900 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 - 60 hp for the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 and 50 hp for the Premier Boats Solaris 160 2013. 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 Explorer 171 2008 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Premier Boats Solaris 160 2013 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 Explorer 171 2008 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 comes in at 15 lbs per hp versus 29 lbs per hp for the Premier Boats Solaris 160 2013. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration - meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.