Both the Triton Boats 1657 SS 2011 and the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2010 are modified-V designs, the first built in aluminium and the second in fibreglass, 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Triton Boats 1657 SS 2011 at 16,0 ft versus Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2010 at 17,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2010 tips the scales at 1 086 lbs - 186 lbs less than the Triton Boats 1657 SS 2011 at 900 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 40 hp for the Triton Boats 1657 SS 2011 and 50 hp for the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2010. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2010 carries 26 gallons versus 12 gallons in the Triton Boats 1657 SS 2011. 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 Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2010 is rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats 1657 SS 2011 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2010 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2010 comes in at 22 lbs per hp versus 23 lbs per hp for the Triton Boats 1657 SS 2011. 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 550 passengers and at 17,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Triton Boats 1657 SS 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.