When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Gillgetter 613 Outfitter 2009 and the Gillgetter 715 Family Cruise 2011 are pontoon designs with aluminum 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 — Gillgetter 613 Outfitter 2009 at 13,0 ft versus Gillgetter 715 Family Cruise 2011 at 15,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Gillgetter 613 Outfitter 2009 tips the scales at 595 lbs — 480 lbs more than the Gillgetter 715 Family Cruise 2011 at 115 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 40 hp, the Gillgetter 715 Family Cruise 2011 has a 25-hp advantage over the Gillgetter 613 Outfitter 2009's 15-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Gillgetter 715 Family Cruise 2011 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Gillgetter 613 Outfitter 2009 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Gillgetter 715 Family Cruise 2011 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Gillgetter 715 Family Cruise 2011 comes in at 3 lbs per hp versus 40 lbs per hp for the Gillgetter 613 Outfitter 2009. 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.
Both are 2-tube and 2-tube pontoon designs respectively. Tube diameter and gauge affect stability and load capacity — more so than most buyers realize when comparing on paper.
Bottom line: Choose the Gillgetter 715 Family Cruise 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 15,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Gillgetter 613 Outfitter 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.