When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Eastern 20 2012 and the Eastern 248 Tournament 2013 are modified 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 Eastern 248 Tournament 2013 measures 24,0 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 3,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Eastern 20 2012 at 20,2 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Eastern 248 Tournament 2013 tips the scales at 1 985 lbs — 1 970 lbs less than the Eastern 20 2012 at 15 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 — 90 hp for the Eastern 20 2012 and 90 hp for the Eastern 248 Tournament 2013. 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Eastern 248 Tournament 2013 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Eastern 20 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Eastern 248 Tournament 2013 could be the deciding factor.