When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Princecraft Sport 174 WS 2013 and the Princecraft Springbok DL BT 2013 are deep 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 Sport 174 WS 2013 at 17,4 ft versus Princecraft Springbok DL BT 2013 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Sport 174 WS 2013 tips the scales at 1 319 lbs — 944 lbs more than the Princecraft Springbok DL BT 2013 at 375 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 125 hp, the Princecraft Sport 174 WS 2013 has a 95-hp advantage over the Princecraft Springbok DL BT 2013's 30-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Princecraft Sport 174 WS 2013 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Princecraft Springbok DL BT 2013 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 174 WS 2013 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Princecraft Sport 174 WS 2013 comes in at 11 lbs per hp versus 13 lbs per hp for the Princecraft Springbok DL BT 2013. 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.