When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Walker Bay 310 AIR 2008 and the Walker Bay 310 Console FTD 2011 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 310 Console FTD 2011 measures 10,2 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 9,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Walker Bay 310 AIR 2008 at 1,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Walker Bay 310 Console FTD 2011 tips the scales at 221 lbs — 133 lbs less than the Walker Bay 310 AIR 2008 at 88 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 310 AIR 2008 and 15 hp for the Walker Bay 310 Console FTD 2011. 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.

Both boats are rated for 4 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.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Walker Bay 310 AIR 2008 comes in at 9 lbs per hp versus 15 lbs per hp for the Walker Bay 310 Console FTD 2011. 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 310 AIR 2008 has a documented top speed of 18 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.