When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Stamas 290 Express Inboard 2007 and the Stamas 370 Express Inboard 2009 are modified 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Stamas 370 Express Inboard 2009 measures 39,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 8,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Stamas 290 Express Inboard 2007 at 31,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Stamas 370 Express Inboard 2009 tips the scales at 2 113 lbs — 2 045 lbs less than the Stamas 290 Express Inboard 2007 at 68 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 Stamas 290 Express Inboard 2007 carries a rated maximum of 500 hp. Engine data for the Stamas 370 Express Inboard 2009 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Stamas 290 Express Inboard 2007 carries 208 gallons versus 4 gallons in the Stamas 370 Express Inboard 2009. 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 Stamas 370 Express Inboard 2009 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Stamas 290 Express Inboard 2007 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Stamas 370 Express Inboard 2009 could be the deciding factor.