When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Walker Bay 310 Console FTD 2011 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Walker Bay 310 Console FTD 2011 at 10,2 ft versus Walker Bay Console 340 DLX 2009 at 11,2 ft. At 221 lbs and 226 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 15 hp for the Walker Bay 310 Console FTD 2011 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 310 Console FTD 2011 caps at 4. 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 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.