When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Princecraft Pro 165 SC 2009 and the Princecraft Sport 164 2011 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 Sport 164 2011 at 16,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Sport 164 2011 tips the scales at 1 008 lbs — 113 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 75 hp for the Princecraft Pro 165 SC 2009 and 90 hp for the Princecraft Sport 164 2011. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Princecraft Pro 165 SC 2009 carries 28 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Princecraft Sport 164 2011. 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 164 2011 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Princecraft Pro 165 SC 2009 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 164 2011 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Princecraft Sport 164 2011 comes in at 11 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 Sport 164 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 16,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft Pro 165 SC 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.