Both the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013 and the Premier Boats Explorer 201 2009 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 2013 at 17,4 ft versus Premier Boats Explorer 201 2009 at 20,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Explorer 201 2009 tips the scales at 2 100 lbs - 500 lbs less than the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013 at 1 600 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 90 hp, the Premier Boats Explorer 201 2009 has a 30-hp advantage over the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013's 60-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 201 2009 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats Explorer 201 2009 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Premier Boats Explorer 201 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 11 passengers and at 20,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.