The Sportsman Masters 247 Bay Boat 2021 vs Sportsman Open 312 Center Console 2016 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 300 hp for the Sportsman Masters 247 Bay Boat 2021 and 300 hp for the Sportsman Open 312 Center Console 2016. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sportsman Masters 247 Bay Boat 2021 carries 71 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Sportsman Open 312 Center Console 2016. 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 Sportsman Open 312 Center Console 2016 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Sportsman Masters 247 Bay Boat 2021 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sportsman Open 312 Center Console 2016 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sportsman Open 312 Center Console 2016 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 31,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sportsman Masters 247 Bay Boat 2021 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.