Both the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 and the Baja Marine 278 Performance 2010 are deep-V designs, both built 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 - Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 at 24,4 ft versus Baja Marine 278 Performance 2010 at 27,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Baja Marine 278 Performance 2010 tips the scales at 5 100 lbs - 800 lbs less than the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 at 4 300 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.
The Baja Marine 278 Performance 2010 tops out at 600 hp. Engine specs for the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 aren't listed - confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Baja Marine 278 Performance 2010 carries 101 gallons versus 80 gallons in the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013. 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 247 Islander 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Baja Marine 278 Performance 2010 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Baja Marine 247 Islander 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 8 passengers and at 24,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Baja Marine 278 Performance 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.