When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 and the Premier Boats SunSpree 180 FS 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 at 16,0 ft versus Premier Boats SunSpree 180 FS 2009 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats SunSpree 180 FS 2009 tips the scales at 165 lbs — 156 lbs less than the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 at 9 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 75 hp for the Premier Boats SunSpree 180 FS 2009. 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 9 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.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Premier Boats Explorer 171 2008 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 2 lbs per hp for the Premier Boats SunSpree 180 FS 2009. 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.