Both the Glacier Bay 2740 Dual Console 2011 and the Glacier Bay 3470 Express Cruiser 2012 are catamaran designs, both built 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Glacier Bay 3470 Express Cruiser 2012 measures 37,5 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 10,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Glacier Bay 2740 Dual Console 2011 at 27,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Glacier Bay 3470 Express Cruiser 2012 tips the scales at 16 400 lbs - 9 900 lbs less than the Glacier Bay 2740 Dual Console 2011 at 6 500 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 300 hp, the Glacier Bay 2740 Dual Console 2011 has a 298-hp advantage over the Glacier Bay 3470 Express Cruiser 2012's 2-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Glacier Bay 2740 Dual Console 2011 carries 180 gallons versus 150 gallons in the Glacier Bay 3470 Express Cruiser 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.