When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Eastern 22 Center Console 2008 and the Eastern 22 Lobster 2008 are deep vee designs with composite 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Eastern 22 Center Console 2008 at 22,0 ft versus Eastern 22 Lobster 2008 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Eastern 22 Lobster 2008 tips the scales at 255 lbs — 239 lbs less than the Eastern 22 Center Console 2008 at 16 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 — 135 hp for the Eastern 22 Center Console 2008 and 135 hp for the Eastern 22 Lobster 2008. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 52 gal and 52 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 6 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.