When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Walker Bay Air Floor 2012 and the Walker Bay Generation 390 2011 are inflatable rigid designs with rigid 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 Generation 390 2011 measures 12,8 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 4,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Walker Bay Air Floor 2012 at 7,9 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Walker Bay Generation 390 2011 tips the scales at 571 lbs — 522 lbs less than the Walker Bay Air Floor 2012 at 49 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 50 hp, the Walker Bay Generation 390 2011 has a 44-hp advantage over the Walker Bay Air Floor 2012's 6-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

Both boats are rated for 3 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 Air Floor 2012 comes in at 8 lbs per hp versus 11 lbs per hp for the Walker Bay Generation 390 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 Air Floor 2012 has a documented top speed of 13 mph. Speed data wasn't available for the other model.