Princecraft Sport 172 2011 vs Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 or the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008?

The Princecraft Sport 172 2011 is the longer of the two at 17,4 feet overall. The Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 15,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 or the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008?

For trailering, the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 has the edge at 158 lbs dry weight versus 1 225 lbs for the Princecraft Sport 172 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Princecraft Sport 172 2011 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 tops out at 90 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Princecraft Sport 172 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 is certified for 11. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat has the better power-to-weight ratio?

The Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 2 lbs per hp compared to 11 lbs per hp for the Princecraft Sport 172 2011. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 measures 96" wide, compared to 92" for the Princecraft Sport 172 2011. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 or the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008?

The Princecraft Sport 172 2011 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 18 gallons on the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008. That 17-gallon difference translates to roughly 51–85 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 and Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 and the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 are built by Princecraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Princecraft Sport 172 2011 vs Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008

Princecraft

Princecraft Sport 172 2011

2011

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Princecraft

Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008

2008

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Princecraft Sport 172 2011 vs Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Princecraft Sport 172 2011 against a pontoon Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Princecraft Sport 172 2011 measures 17,4 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 15,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 tips the scales at 1 225 lbs — 1 067 lbs more than the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 at 158 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 115 hp, the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 has a 25-hp advantage over the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008's 90-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 Sport 172 2011 carries 35 gallons versus 18 gallons in the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008. 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 Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 is rated for 11 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 Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 comes in at 2 lbs per hp versus 11 lbs per hp for the Princecraft Sport 172 2011. 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 Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 2,0 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.

General Boat Info

MakePrincecraft

ModelSport 172

ModelSportfisher 20 L4S

Model Year2011

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam92 in. (2.3 m)

Beam8 ft. 0 in. (2.4 m)

Beam - Meters2.34

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches92

Beam - Inches96

Depth - Detail39 in. (1.0 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters99.06

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches39

Depth - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail30 in. (0.8 m)

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.76

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches3

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail1,225 lbs. (556 kg)

Weight - Detail1,580 lbs. (717 kg)

Weight - kg555.65

Weight - kg716.68

Weight - lbs.1225

Weight - lbs.158

Width [transom] - Detail75 in. (1.9 m)

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]25 in. (0.6 m)

Height [transom]not available

Length - Feet17.42

Length - Feet2

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 5 in. (5.3 m)

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 4 in. (6.2 m)

Length overall - Meters5.31

Length overall - Meters6.2

Length overall - Inches209

Length overall - Inches244

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [at waterline]Pontoon: 20 ft. 4 in. (6.2 m)

Length [deck]not available

Length [deck]20 ft. 0 in. (6.1 m)

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters6.2

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches4

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thicknessBottom: 0.100 in. (2.5 mm) Side: 0.072 in. (1.8 mm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal. (132 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail18 gal. (68 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters68.14

Fuel tank capacity - Gal35

Fuel tank capacity - Gal18

Fuel typeGas

Engine max115 hp (86 kW)

Engine max90 hp (67 kW)

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacityPerson: 830 lbs. (376 kg) Total: 1,570 lbs. (712 kg)

Maximum capacityPerson: 1,495 lbs. (678 kg) Total: 2,097 lbs. (951 kg)

Maximum people6

Maximum people11

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameternot available

Tube diameter25 in. (0.64 m)

Tube gaugenot available

Tube gauge0.080 in. (2 mm)

Number of tubesnot available

Number of tubes2

Princecraft Sport 172 2011 vs Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 or the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008?

The Princecraft Sport 172 2011 is the longer of the two at 17,4 feet overall. The Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 15,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 or the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008?

For trailering, the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 has the edge at 158 lbs dry weight versus 1 225 lbs for the Princecraft Sport 172 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Princecraft Sport 172 2011 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 tops out at 90 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Princecraft Sport 172 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 is certified for 11. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat has the better power-to-weight ratio?

The Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 2 lbs per hp compared to 11 lbs per hp for the Princecraft Sport 172 2011. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 measures 96" wide, compared to 92" for the Princecraft Sport 172 2011. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 or the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008?

The Princecraft Sport 172 2011 has the bigger tank at 35 gallons, versus 18 gallons on the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008. That 17-gallon difference translates to roughly 51–85 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 and Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft Sport 172 2011 and the Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 are built by Princecraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Princecraft Sport 172 2011 full specs ← Princecraft Sportfisher 20 L4S 2008 full specs