Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 vs Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 or the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008?

For trailering, the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 has the edge at 1 700 lbs dry weight versus 3 450 lbs for the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008. 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 Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 tops out at 115 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 Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 is certified for 7. 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 is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 measures 102" wide, compared to 92" for the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005. 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 Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 or the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008?

The Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 has the bigger tank at 80 gallons, versus 40 gallons on the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005. That 40-gallon difference translates to roughly 120–200 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 and Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 and the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 are built by Pro-Line. 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

Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 vs Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008

Pro-Line

Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005

2005

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Pro-Line

Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008

2008

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 vs Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 vs Pro-Line 23 Bay 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 has a 185-hp advantage over the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005'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 Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 carries 80 gallons versus 40 gallons in the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005. 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 Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 7 passengers and at 23,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakePro-Line

Model17 Sport

Model23 Bay

Model Year2005

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 8 in.

Beam8 ft. 6 in.

Beam - Meters2.34

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches92

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise15℃

Draft [max] - Detail12 in.

Draft [max] - Detail11 in.

Draft [max] - Meters0.3

Draft [max] - Meters0.28

Draft [max] - Inches12

Draft [max] - Inches11

Weight - Detail1,700 lbs.

Weight - Detail3,450 lbs.

Weight - kg771.11

Weight - kg1564.89

Weight - lbs.1700

Weight - lbs.3450

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 4 in.

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 0 in.

Length overall - Meters5.28

Length overall - Meters7.01

Length overall - Inches208

Length overall - Inches276

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 0 in. With Hard Top: 7 ft. 9 in.

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.36

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches93

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - DetailCockpit: 20 in.

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters50.8

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches20

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet23

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail40 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detail80 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Liters151.42

Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83

Fuel tank capacity - Gal40

Fuel tank capacity - Gal80

Engine max115 hp

Engine max300 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Trailer Info

Trailer - Weight2,400 lbs.

Trailer - Weight4,705 lbs.

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Options / Other

Optionsnot available

OptionsOnyx Black, Deep Blue, Shiraz, Glory Blue

Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 vs Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 - Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer - the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 or the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008?

For trailering, the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 has the edge at 1 700 lbs dry weight versus 3 450 lbs for the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008. 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 Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 tops out at 115 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 Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 is certified for 7. 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 is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 measures 102" wide, compared to 92" for the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005. 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 Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 or the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008?

The Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 has the bigger tank at 80 gallons, versus 40 gallons on the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005. That 40-gallon difference translates to roughly 120–200 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 and Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 and the Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 are built by Pro-Line. 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.

← Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 full specs ← Pro-Line 23 Bay 2008 full specs