The Princecraft Pro 179 LX 2004 vs Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2012 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 135 hp for the Princecraft Pro 179 LX 2004 and 125 hp for the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2012. 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 179 LX 2004 carries 35 gallons versus 26 gallons in the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 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 WS 2012 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Princecraft Pro 179 LX 2004 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 WS 2012 could be the deciding factor.