When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Grand Entertainer 260 2012 and the Premier Boats SunSation 180 RE 2009 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 Grand Entertainer 260 2012 measures 26,4 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 9,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats SunSation 180 RE 2009 at 17,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Grand Entertainer 260 2012 tips the scales at 335 lbs — 170 lbs more than the Premier Boats SunSation 180 RE 2009 at 165 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 250 hp, the Premier Boats Grand Entertainer 260 2012 has a 175-hp advantage over the Premier Boats SunSation 180 RE 2009's 75-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 Entertainer 260 2012 carries 47 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Premier Boats SunSation 180 RE 2009. 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 Entertainer 260 2012 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Premier Boats SunSation 180 RE 2009 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats Grand Entertainer 260 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Both are 3-tube and 2-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 Grand Entertainer 260 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 26,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats SunSation 180 RE 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.