Both the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013 and the Premier Boats Grand Isle 290 RF / SL 2012 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Premier Boats Grand Isle 290 RF / SL 2012 measures 29,4 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 12,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013 at 17,4 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Grand Isle 290 RF / SL 2012 tips the scales at 3 700 lbs - 2 100 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 300 hp, the Premier Boats Grand Isle 290 RF / SL 2012 has a 240-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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Premier Boats Grand Isle 290 RF / SL 2012 carries 47 gallons versus 28 gallons in the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Premier Boats Grand Isle 290 RF / SL 2012 is rated for 18 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 Grand Isle 290 RF / SL 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Both are 2-tube and 3-tube pontoon designs respectively. Tube diameter and gauge affect stability and load capacity - more so than most buyers realize when comparing on paper.