When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2011 and the Triton Boats 351 XD 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?

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 1 050 hp, the Triton Boats 351 XD 2009 has a 1 000-hp advantage over the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2011's 50-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Triton Boats 351 XD 2009 carries 355 gallons versus 26 gallons in the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 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 2011 is rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats 351 XD 2009 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2011 could be the deciding factor.