Both the Princecraft Pro 207 2009 and the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 are modified-V designs, both built in aluminium, so 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 207 2009 at 20,0 ft versus Princecraft Sport 172 2011 at 17,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Pro 207 2009 tips the scales at 1 820 lbs - 595 lbs more than the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 at 1 225 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 225 hp, the Princecraft Pro 207 2009 has a 110-hp advantage over the Princecraft Sport 172 2011'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 Pro 207 2009 carries 60 gallons versus 35 gallons in the Princecraft Sport 172 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 Pro 207 2009 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft Pro 207 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft Pro 207 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 10 passengers and at 20,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft Sport 172 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.