The Princecraft Sport 174 2011 is a modified-V design and the Princecraft Voyageur 2009 is a pontoon design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Princecraft Sport 174 2011 at 17,4 ft versus Princecraft Voyageur 2009 at 20,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Sport 174 2011 tips the scales at 1 319 lbs - 244 lbs more than the Princecraft Voyageur 2009 at 1 075 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 174 2011 has a 55-hp advantage over the Princecraft Voyageur 2009's 60-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 Voyageur 2009 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Princecraft Sport 174 2011 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft Voyageur 2009 could be the deciding factor.