Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 vs Pro-Line 28 Express 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 or the Pro-Line 28 Express 2006?

For trailering, the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 has the edge at 17 lbs dry weight versus 75 lbs for the Pro-Line 28 Express 2006. 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 28 Express 2006 is rated to a maximum of 500 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 28 Express 2006 is certified for 8. 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 28 Express 2006 measures 126" 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 and Pro-Line 28 Express 2006?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 4 gallons and 2 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 and Pro-Line 28 Express 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 and the Pro-Line 28 Express 2006 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 28 Express 2006

Pro-Line

Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005

2005

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Pro-Line

Pro-Line 28 Express 2006

2006

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 vs Pro-Line 28 Express 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 vs Pro-Line 28 Express 2006 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 500 hp, the Pro-Line 28 Express 2006 has a 385-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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 4 gal and 2 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Pro-Line 28 Express 2006 is rated for 8 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 28 Express 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Pro-Line 28 Express 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 29,0 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

Model28 Express

Model Year2005

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 8 in

Beam9 ft. 18 in

Beam - Meters2.34

Beam - Meters3.2

Beam - Inches92

Beam - Inches126

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise22℃

Draft [max] - Detail12 in

Draft [max] - Detail22 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.3

Draft [max] - Meters0.56

Draft [max] - Inches12

Draft [max] - Inches22

Weight - Detail1,700 lbs

Weight - Detail7,500 lbs

Weight - kg771.11

Weight - kg3401.94

Weight - lbs.17

Weight - lbs.75

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Detail29 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Meters5.28

Length overall - Meters8.94

Length overall - Inches208

Length overall - Inches352

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Detail8 ft. 3 in. w/Hard Top: 10 ft. 0 in

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters3.05

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches12

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - DetailCockpit Depth: 28 in

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters71.12

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches28

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet29

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches4

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail40 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail200 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters151.42

Fuel tank capacity - Liters757.08

Fuel tank capacity - Gal4

Fuel tank capacity - Gal2

Engine max115 hp

Engine max500 hp

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Trailer Info

Trailer - Weight2,400 lbs

Trailer - Weight10,000 lbs

Operational Info

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity30 gal

Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 vs Pro-Line 28 Express 2006 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 or the Pro-Line 28 Express 2006?

For trailering, the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 has the edge at 17 lbs dry weight versus 75 lbs for the Pro-Line 28 Express 2006. 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 28 Express 2006 is rated to a maximum of 500 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 28 Express 2006 is certified for 8. 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 28 Express 2006 measures 126" 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 and Pro-Line 28 Express 2006?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 4 gallons and 2 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 and Pro-Line 28 Express 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2005 and the Pro-Line 28 Express 2006 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 28 Express 2006 full specs