Both the World Cat 270TE Tournament Edition 2011 and the World Cat 290DC Dual Console 2010 are catamaran designs, the first built in composite and the second in fibreglass, so 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 - World Cat 270TE Tournament Edition 2011 at 28,0 ft versus World Cat 290DC Dual Console 2010 at 29,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the World Cat 290DC Dual Console 2010 tips the scales at 9 200 lbs - 2 600 lbs less than the World Cat 270TE Tournament Edition 2011 at 6 600 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 500 hp, the World Cat 290DC Dual Console 2010 has a 50-hp advantage over the World Cat 270TE Tournament Edition 2011's 450-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the World Cat 290DC Dual Console 2010 carries 250 gallons versus 240 gallons in the World Cat 270TE Tournament Edition 2011. 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 World Cat 290DC Dual Console 2010 is rated for 12 passengers, while the World Cat 270TE Tournament Edition 2011 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the World Cat 290DC Dual Console 2010 could be the deciding factor.