When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Princecraft Platinum SE 207 2013 and the Princecraft Xpedition 170 SC 2013 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Princecraft Xpedition 170 SC 2013 measures 16,9 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 14,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Princecraft Platinum SE 207 2013 at 2,0 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Platinum SE 207 2013 tips the scales at 185 lbs — 174 lbs more than the Princecraft Xpedition 170 SC 2013 at 11 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 Princecraft Platinum SE 207 2013 has a 135-hp advantage over the Princecraft Xpedition 170 SC 2013's 115-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 Platinum SE 207 2013 carries 59 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Princecraft Xpedition 170 SC 2013. 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 Platinum SE 207 2013 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Princecraft Xpedition 170 SC 2013 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft Platinum SE 207 2013 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Princecraft Xpedition 170 SC 2013 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Princecraft Platinum SE 207 2013. 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft Platinum SE 207 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft Xpedition 170 SC 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.