Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Princecraft Tournament SP 178 SC SE 2005 vs Princecraft Versailles 26 LP-SS I/O 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Princecraft Tournament SP 178 SC SE 2005 vs Princecraft Versailles 26 LP-SS I/O 2008 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Princecraft Versailles 26 LP-SS I/O 2008 measures 26,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 9,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Princecraft Tournament SP 178 SC SE 2005 at 17,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Versailles 26 LP-SS I/O 2008 tips the scales at 3 913 lbs — 2 748 lbs less than the Princecraft Tournament SP 178 SC SE 2005 at 1 165 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 220 hp, the Princecraft Versailles 26 LP-SS I/O 2008 has a 70-hp advantage over the Princecraft Tournament SP 178 SC SE 2005's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 35 gal and 33 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Princecraft Versailles 26 LP-SS I/O 2008 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Princecraft Tournament SP 178 SC SE 2005 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft Versailles 26 LP-SS I/O 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft Versailles 26 LP-SS I/O 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft Tournament SP 178 SC SE 2005 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
MakePrincecraft
ModelTournament SP 178 SC SE
ModelVersailles 26 LP-SS I/O
Model Year2005
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam92 in. (2.3 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.6 m)
Beam - Meters2.34
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches92
Beam - Inches102
Depth - Detail40 in. (1.0 m)
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - Centimeters101.6
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Inches4
Depth - Inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail31 in. (0.8 m)
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.79
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches31
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail1,165 lbs. (528 kg)
Weight - Detail3,913 lbs. (1,775 kg)
Weight - kg528.43
Weight - kg1774.91
Weight - lbs.1165
Weight - lbs.3913
Width [transom] - Detail75 in. (1.9 m)
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)
Height [transom]not available
Length - Meters5.3
Length - Meters8
Length - Feet17
Length - Feet26
Length - Inches5
Length - Inches4
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 5 in. (5.3 m)
Length overall - Detail26 ft. 4 in. (8 m)
Length overall - Meters5.31
Length overall - Meters8.03
Length overall - Inches209
Length overall - Inches316
Length [at waterline]not available
Length [at waterline]Pontoon: 26 ft. 4 in. (8 m)
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]26 ft. 3 in. (8 m)
Body / Hull
Hull thicknessBottom: .100 in. (2.5 mm) Side: .072 in. (1.8 mm)
Hull thicknessnot available
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialAluminum
Hull typenot available
Hull typePontoon
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal. Built-in (132 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail33 gal. (125 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49
Fuel tank capacity - Liters124.92
Fuel tank capacity - Gal35
Fuel tank capacity - Gal33
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeI/O
Engine max150 hp (112 kw)
Engine max220 hp (164 kW)
Fuel typenot available
Fuel typeGas
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,488 lbs. (675 kg)
Maximum capacityPerson: 2,080 lbs. (943 kg) Total: 3,080 lbs. (1,397 kg)
Maximum people6
Maximum people15
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 tubes3