When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Stamas 289 Tarpon Inboard 2012 and the Stamas 289 Tarpon Outboard 2012 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — 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 — Stamas 289 Tarpon Inboard 2012 at 28,8 ft versus Stamas 289 Tarpon Outboard 2012 at 28,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Stamas 289 Tarpon Inboard 2012 tips the scales at 669 lbs — 614 lbs more than the Stamas 289 Tarpon Outboard 2012 at 55 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 Stamas 289 Tarpon Outboard 2012 has a 210-hp advantage over the Stamas 289 Tarpon Inboard 2012's 240-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Stamas 289 Tarpon Inboard 2012 carries 106 gallons versus 22 gallons in the Stamas 289 Tarpon Outboard 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 9 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.