When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Century Boats 2301 Center Console 2010 and the Century Boats 2900 Express 2010 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 Century Boats 2900 Express 2010 measures 30,5 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 7,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Century Boats 2301 Center Console 2010 at 23,0 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Century Boats 2900 Express 2010 tips the scales at 10 422 lbs — 10 007 lbs less than the Century Boats 2301 Center Console 2010 at 415 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 700 hp, the Century Boats 2900 Express 2010 has a 400-hp advantage over the Century Boats 2301 Center Console 2010's 300-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Century Boats 2900 Express 2010 carries 225 gallons versus 14 gallons in the Century Boats 2301 Center Console 2010. 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 Century Boats 2900 Express 2010 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Century Boats 2301 Center Console 2010 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Century Boats 2900 Express 2010 could be the deciding factor.