When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Premier Boats Solaris RF 225 2012 and the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 235 FS 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Premier Boats Solaris RF 225 2012 at 22,4 ft versus Premier Boats SunSation LTD 235 FS 2009 at 23,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats Solaris RF 225 2012 tips the scales at 265 lbs — 236 lbs more than the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 235 FS 2009 at 29 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 SunSation LTD 235 FS 2009 has a 25-hp advantage over the Premier Boats Solaris RF 225 2012's 125-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 Solaris RF 225 2012 carries 23 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 235 FS 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 SunSation LTD 235 FS 2009 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Premier Boats Solaris RF 225 2012 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 SunSation LTD 235 FS 2009 could be the deciding factor.
One place where both boats are genuinely identical is tube construction: both run 23 aluminum tubes at 25" diameter. That shared spec means stability and buoyancy characteristics are closely matched — the ride difference you'll feel between them comes primarily from deck length, weight distribution, and motor choice.
Bottom line: Choose the Premier Boats SunSation LTD 235 FS 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 23,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats Solaris RF 225 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.