When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Princecraft Pro 165 SC 2009 and the Princecraft Pro 179 LX SC 2008 are modified 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 Pro 165 SC 2009 at 16,2 ft versus Princecraft Pro 179 LX SC 2008 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Pro 179 LX SC 2008 tips the scales at 1 129 lbs — 234 lbs less than the Princecraft Pro 165 SC 2009 at 895 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 135 hp, the Princecraft Pro 179 LX SC 2008 has a 60-hp advantage over the Princecraft Pro 165 SC 2009's 75-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 Pro 179 LX SC 2008 carries 35 gallons versus 28 gallons in the Princecraft Pro 165 SC 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 Princecraft Pro 165 SC 2009 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Princecraft Pro 179 LX SC 2008 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft Pro 165 SC 2009 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Princecraft Pro 179 LX SC 2008 comes in at 8 lbs per hp versus 12 lbs per hp for the Princecraft Pro 165 SC 2009. 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 Pro 165 SC 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 16,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft Pro 179 LX SC 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.