When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Princecraft Hudson DLX BT 2013 and the Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2012 are deep vee 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 — Princecraft Hudson DLX BT 2013 at 19,0 ft versus Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2012 at 17,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2012 tips the scales at 1 174 lbs — 1 057 lbs less than the Princecraft Hudson DLX BT 2013 at 117 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 125 hp, the Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2012 has a 35-hp advantage over the Princecraft Hudson DLX BT 2013's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 27 gal and 26 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 6 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.