Both the Princecraft Vacanza 220 LPW I/O 2008 and the Princecraft Xpedition 170 WS 2013 are deep-V designs, both built in aluminium, so 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Princecraft Vacanza 220 LPW I/O 2008 measures 22,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 5,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Princecraft Xpedition 170 WS 2013 at 16,9 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Vacanza 220 LPW I/O 2008 tips the scales at 3 534 lbs - 2 368 lbs more than the Princecraft Xpedition 170 WS 2013 at 1 166 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 300 hp, the Princecraft Vacanza 220 LPW I/O 2008 has a 185-hp advantage over the Princecraft Xpedition 170 WS 2013's 115-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 Vacanza 220 LPW I/O 2008 carries 50 gallons versus 20 gallons in the Princecraft Xpedition 170 WS 2013. 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 Vacanza 220 LPW I/O 2008 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Princecraft Xpedition 170 WS 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 Vacanza 220 LPW I/O 2008 could be the deciding factor.