The Princecraft Holiday DLX SC 2012 is a deep-V design and the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 is a modified-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Princecraft Holiday DLX SC 2012 at 16,2 ft versus Princecraft Sport 172 2011 at 17,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 tips the scales at 1 225 lbs - 433 lbs less than the Princecraft Holiday DLX SC 2012 at 792 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 115 hp, the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 has a 55-hp advantage over the Princecraft Holiday DLX SC 2012's 60-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 carries 35 gallons versus 20 gallons in the Princecraft Holiday DLX SC 2012. 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 Princecraft Sport 172 2011 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Princecraft Holiday DLX SC 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Princecraft Sport 172 2011 comes in at 11 lbs per hp versus 13 lbs per hp for the Princecraft Holiday DLX SC 2012. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration - meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.