When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Glacier Bay 2740 Dual Console 2011 and the Glacier Bay 3480 Hardtop Ocean Runner 2013 are catamaran designs with fiberglass 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 Glacier Bay 3480 Hardtop Ocean Runner 2013 measures 37,5 feet overall (2013), 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 3480 Hardtop Ocean Runner 2013 tips the scales at 169 lbs — 104 lbs less than the Glacier Bay 2740 Dual Console 2011 at 65 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 3480 Hardtop Ocean Runner 2013's 2-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 18 gal and 15 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.