When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Intrigue 250 RF 2011 and the Premier Boats Solaris 180 2013 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 Intrigue 250 RF 2011 measures 26,3 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 7,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats Solaris 180 2013 at 18,4 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Intrigue 250 RF 2011 tips the scales at 335 lbs — 160 lbs more than the Premier Boats Solaris 180 2013 at 175 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 250 RF 2011 has a 75-hp advantage over the Premier Boats Solaris 180 2013's 75-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 25 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 Intrigue 250 RF 2011 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Premier Boats Solaris 180 2013 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 Intrigue 250 RF 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.