The May-Craft 2550 Center Console 2007 vs May-Craft 2700 Pilot XL 2009 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story: intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - May-Craft 2550 Center Console 2007 at 25,0 ft versus May-Craft 2700 Pilot XL 2009 at 27,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the May-Craft 2700 Pilot XL 2009 tips the scales at 4 800 lbs - 1 200 lbs less than the May-Craft 2550 Center Console 2007 at 3 600 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 500 hp, the May-Craft 2700 Pilot XL 2009 has a 200-hp advantage over the May-Craft 2550 Center Console 2007's 300-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the May-Craft 2700 Pilot XL 2009 carries 200 gallons versus 120 gallons in the May-Craft 2550 Center Console 2007. 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 May-Craft 2700 Pilot XL 2009 is rated for 8 passengers, while the May-Craft 2550 Center Console 2007 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the May-Craft 2700 Pilot XL 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the May-Craft 2700 Pilot XL 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 8 passengers and at 27,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The May-Craft 2550 Center Console 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.