Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 has the edge at 3 lbs dry weight versus 51 lbs for the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 has a documented max rating of 320 hp. Engine specifications for the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 94" for the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012?

The Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 has the bigger tank at 101 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004. That 96-gallon difference translates to roughly 288–480 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 and the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 are built by Baja Marine. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012

Baja Marine

Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004

2004

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Baja Marine

Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 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.

The Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 tops out at 320 hp. Engine specs for the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 carries 101 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004. 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 202 Islander 2004 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 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 202 Islander 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBaja Marine

Model202 Islander

Model277 Islander

Model Year2004

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 10 in

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.39

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches94

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise21℃

Deadrise24℃

Weight - Detail3,000 lbs

Weight - Detail5,100 lbs. (2,313 kg)

Weight - kg1360.78

Weight - kg2313.32

Weight - lbs.3

Weight - lbs.51

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Detail27 ft. 5 in. (8.36 m)

Length overall - Meters6.2

Length overall - Meters8.36

Length overall - Inches244

Length overall - Inches329

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (96.52 cm)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.97

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches38

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters8.36

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet27.42

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]29 ft. 2 in. (8.89 m)

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail101 gal. (382.3 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters382.33

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel tank capacity - Gal101

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMerCruiser®

Engine modelnot available

Engine modelMX 6.2L /Bravo I

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeInboard

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower320 hp

Operational Info

Maximum people8 Passenger

Maximum people1

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 vs Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012?

For trailering, the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 has the edge at 3 lbs dry weight versus 51 lbs for the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 has a documented max rating of 320 hp. Engine specifications for the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 94" for the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 or the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012?

The Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 has the bigger tank at 101 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004. That 96-gallon difference translates to roughly 288–480 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 and Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 and the Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 are built by Baja Marine. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Baja Marine 202 Islander 2004 full specs ← Baja Marine 277 Islander 2012 full specs