When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Explorer 201 2010 and the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 200 RE 2011 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 SunSation LTD 200 RE 2011 measures 20,3 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 18,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats Explorer 201 2010 at 2,0 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 200 RE 2011 tips the scales at 235 lbs — 214 lbs less than the Premier Boats Explorer 201 2010 at 21 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 75 hp for the Premier Boats Explorer 201 2010 and 90 hp for the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 200 RE 2011. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 200 RE 2011 carries 33 gallons versus 28 gallons in the Premier Boats Explorer 201 2010. 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 SunSation LTD 200 RE 2011 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Premier Boats Explorer 201 2010 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 SunSation LTD 200 RE 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Both are 23-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 SunSation LTD 200 RE 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 20,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats Explorer 201 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.