When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Baja Marine 20 Outlaw 2008 and the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2013 are deep 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 Baja Marine 277 Islander 2013 measures 27,4 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 25,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Baja Marine 20 Outlaw 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). At 29 lbs and 51 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The Baja Marine 20 Outlaw 2008 carries a rated maximum of 300 hp. Engine data for the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2013 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2013 carries 101 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Baja Marine 20 Outlaw 2008. 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 Baja Marine 20 Outlaw 2008 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2013 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Baja Marine 20 Outlaw 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Baja Marine 20 Outlaw 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Baja Marine 277 Islander 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.