Both the Grady-White Chase 273 2009 and the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 are modified-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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Grady-White Chase 273 2009 at 26,9 ft versus Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 at 29,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 tips the scales at 7 650 lbs - 2 807 lbs less than the Grady-White Chase 273 2009 at 4 843 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 600 hp, the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 has a 100-hp advantage over the Grady-White Chase 273 2009's 500-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 205 gal and 206 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Grady-White Chase 273 2009 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 could be the deciding factor.