When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Walker Bay 270 FTD/FTDH 2008 and the Walker Bay Console 340 DLX 2009 are foldable designs with inflatable 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 Walker Bay Console 340 DLX 2009 measures 11,2 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 3,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Walker Bay 270 FTD/FTDH 2008 at 8,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Walker Bay Console 340 DLX 2009 tips the scales at 226 lbs — 107 lbs less than the Walker Bay 270 FTD/FTDH 2008 at 119 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 10 hp for the Walker Bay 270 FTD/FTDH 2008 and 20 hp for the Walker Bay Console 340 DLX 2009. 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Walker Bay Console 340 DLX 2009 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Walker Bay 270 FTD/FTDH 2008 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Walker Bay Console 340 DLX 2009 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Walker Bay Console 340 DLX 2009 comes in at 11 lbs per hp versus 12 lbs per hp for the Walker Bay 270 FTD/FTDH 2008. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
The Walker Bay 270 FTD/FTDH 2008 has a documented top speed of 19 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.
Bottom line: Choose the Walker Bay Console 340 DLX 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 11,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Walker Bay 270 FTD/FTDH 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.