When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Eastern 248 Explorer 2012 and the Eastern 27 2008 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Eastern 248 Explorer 2012 at 24,0 ft versus Eastern 27 2008 at 26,0 ft. At 35 lbs and 48 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Eastern 27 2008 has a 150-hp advantage over the Eastern 248 Explorer 2012's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 9 gal and 11 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Eastern 27 2008 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Eastern 248 Explorer 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Eastern 27 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Eastern 27 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Eastern 248 Explorer 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.