Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 vs Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 or the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004?

The Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 is the longer of the two at 27,0 feet overall. The Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 comes in at 23,0 feet, making it roughly 4,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 or the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004?

For trailering, the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 has the edge at 3 lbs dry weight versus 2 375 lbs for the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 is certified for 15. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 and Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 share an 8 ft. 6 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Are the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 and Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 and the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 are built by Premier Boats. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 vs Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004

Premier Boats

Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005

2005

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Premier Boats

Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 vs Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 vs Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 measures 27,0 feet overall (2004), giving it roughly 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 at 23,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 tips the scales at 2 375 lbs — 2 372 lbs more than the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 at 3 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 27,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakePremier Boats

Model240 Explorer

Model270 Escapade

Model Year2005

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail1,850 lbs. (2 tubes) 2,375 lbs. (3 tubes)

Weight - Detail2,600 lbs. (2 tubes) 3,000 lbs. (3 tubes)

Weight - kg1077.28

Weight - kg1360.78

Weight - lbs.2375

Weight - lbs.3

Length [deck]22 ft. 7 in

Length [deck]not available

Length - Feet23

Length - Feet27

Length - Inches6

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Detail27 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters7.16

Length overall - Meters8.23

Length overall - Inches282

Length overall - Inches324

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter23 in

Tube diameter25 in

Tube gauge.08

Tube gaugenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standard120 hp (2 tubes) 175 hp (3 25 in. tubes)

Engine/s standard150 hp (2 tubes) 225 hp (3 tubes) 250 hp (PTX)

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeOutBoard

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters113.56

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal3

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,272 lbs. (2 tubes) 2,347 lbs. (3 tubes)

Maximum capacity2,770 lbs. (2 tubes) 2,770 lbs. (3 tubes)

Maximum people12

Maximum people15

Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 vs Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 or the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004?

The Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 is the longer of the two at 27,0 feet overall. The Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 comes in at 23,0 feet, making it roughly 4,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 or the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004?

For trailering, the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 has the edge at 3 lbs dry weight versus 2 375 lbs for the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 is certified for 15. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 and Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 share an 8 ft. 6 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Are the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 and Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 and the Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 are built by Premier Boats. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Premier Boats 240 Explorer 2005 full specs ← Premier Boats 270 Escapade 2004 full specs