When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013 and the Premier Boats Gemini 201 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013 at 17,4 ft versus Premier Boats Gemini 201 2013 at 20,4 ft. At 16 lbs and 19 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 90 hp, the Premier Boats Gemini 201 2013 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 28 gal and 28 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Premier Boats Gemini 201 2013 is rated for 10 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 Gemini 201 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Premier Boats Gemini 201 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 20,4 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.