When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Eastern 22 Sportfisherman 2008 and the Eastern 248 Islander 2012 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 Sportfisherman 2008 at 22,0 ft versus Eastern 248 Islander 2012 at 24,0 ft. At 16 lbs and 35 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The Eastern 22 Sportfisherman 2008 carries a rated maximum of 135 hp. Engine data for the Eastern 248 Islander 2012 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Eastern 22 Sportfisherman 2008 carries 52 gallons versus 9 gallons in the Eastern 248 Islander 2012. 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 Eastern 248 Islander 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Eastern 22 Sportfisherman 2008 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 Islander 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Eastern 248 Islander 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Eastern 22 Sportfisherman 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.