When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2012 and the Premier Boats Solaris 250 2013 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 Solaris 250 2013 measures 25,4 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 8,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2012 at 17,4 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Solaris 250 2013 tips the scales at 295 lbs — 279 lbs less than the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2012 at 16 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 150 hp, the Premier Boats Solaris 250 2013 has a 90-hp advantage over the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2012's 60-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 27 gal and 25 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Premier Boats Solaris 250 2013 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats Solaris 250 2013 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.