When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013 and the Premier Boats Solaris 235 2012 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 235 2012 measures 23,4 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 6,0 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 Solaris 235 2012 tips the scales at 265 lbs — 249 lbs less than the Premier Boats Explorer 171 2013 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 125 hp, the Premier Boats Solaris 235 2012 has a 65-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 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 235 2012 is rated for 12 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 Solaris 235 2012 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.