When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Princecraft PW 1655 2011 and the Princecraft Springbok 20 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 PW 1655 2011 at 16,4 ft versus Princecraft Springbok 20 2008 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft PW 1655 2011 tips the scales at 658 lbs — 365 lbs more than the Princecraft Springbok 20 2008 at 293 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 Princecraft PW 1655 2011 carries a rated maximum of 50 hp. Engine data for the Princecraft Springbok 20 2008 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Princecraft PW 1655 2011 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Princecraft Springbok 20 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 PW 1655 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft PW 1655 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 16,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft Springbok 20 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.