Both the Eastern 27 Lobsterfisherman 2011 and the Eastern Eastern 31 2010 are deep-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so 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?

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 330 hp, the Eastern Eastern 31 2010 has a 105-hp advantage over the Eastern 27 Lobsterfisherman 2011's 225-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Eastern 27 Lobsterfisherman 2011 carries 110 gallons versus 100 gallons in the Eastern Eastern 31 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 Eastern Eastern 31 2010 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Eastern 27 Lobsterfisherman 2011 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Eastern Eastern 31 2010 could be the deciding factor.