Both the Premier Boats Explorer 221 2008 and the Premier Boats Intrigue 235 RE 2010 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 221 2008 at 21,0 ft versus Premier Boats Intrigue 235 RE 2010 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Intrigue 235 RE 2010 tips the scales at 3 150 lbs - 1 500 lbs less than the Premier Boats Explorer 221 2008 at 1 650 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 150 hp, the Premier Boats Intrigue 235 RE 2010 has a 25-hp advantage over the Premier Boats Explorer 221 2008's 125-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 Intrigue 235 RE 2010 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Premier Boats Explorer 221 2008 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats Intrigue 235 RE 2010 could be the deciding factor.