When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2008 and the Pro-Line 20 Express 2009 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — 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 Pro-Line 17 Sport 2008 measures 17,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 15,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Pro-Line 20 Express 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Pro-Line 20 Express 2009 tips the scales at 275 lbs — 258 lbs less than the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2008 at 17 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 200 hp, the Pro-Line 20 Express 2009 has a 85-hp advantage over the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2008'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 7 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Pro-Line 20 Express 2009 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Pro-Line 17 Sport 2008 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 20 Express 2009 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Pro-Line 17 Sport 2008 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Pro-Line 20 Express 2009. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.