Both the Italboats Stingher 28 GT 2027 and the Italboats X8 2027 are rigid inflatable 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 - Italboats Stingher 28 GT 2027 at 28,0 ft versus Italboats X8 2027 at 28,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Italboats Stingher 28 GT 2027 tips the scales at 3 461 lbs - 485 lbs more than the Italboats X8 2027 at 2 976 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 450 hp, the Italboats X8 2027 has a 150-hp advantage over the Italboats Stingher 28 GT 2027's 300-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 92 gal and 92 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Italboats X8 2027 is rated for 20 passengers, while the Italboats Stingher 28 GT 2027 caps at 16. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Italboats X8 2027 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Italboats X8 2027 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 20 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Italboats Stingher 28 GT 2027 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 16 that costs less to run day-to-day.