The Triton Boats 171 Bay Explorer 2010 vs Triton Boats Frontier 19 Deep V 2005 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Triton Boats 171 Bay Explorer 2010 at 17,1 ft versus Triton Boats Frontier 19 Deep V 2005 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Triton Boats 171 Bay Explorer 2010 tips the scales at 1 375 lbs — 383 lbs more than the Triton Boats Frontier 19 Deep V 2005 at 992 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 — 75 hp for the Triton Boats 171 Bay Explorer 2010 and 75 hp for the Triton Boats Frontier 19 Deep V 2005. 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 171 Bay Explorer 2010 carries 33 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Triton Boats Frontier 19 Deep V 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 Triton Boats Frontier 19 Deep V 2005 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Triton Boats 171 Bay Explorer 2010 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 Frontier 19 Deep V 2005 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Triton Boats Frontier 19 Deep V 2005 comes in at 13 lbs per hp versus 18 lbs per hp for the Triton Boats 171 Bay Explorer 2010. 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 Frontier 19 Deep V 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Triton Boats 171 Bay Explorer 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.