The Everglades Boats 290 Pilot 2008 is a modified-V design and the Everglades Boats 295 Pilot 2012 is a deep-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Everglades Boats 290 Pilot 2008 at 28,0 ft versus Everglades Boats 295 Pilot 2012 at 28,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Everglades Boats 295 Pilot 2012 tips the scales at 6 300 lbs - 800 lbs less than the Everglades Boats 290 Pilot 2008 at 5 500 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 700 hp, the Everglades Boats 295 Pilot 2012 has a 100-hp advantage over the Everglades Boats 290 Pilot 2008's 600-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 200 gal and 200 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 14 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.