Both the Glacier Bay 3470 Express Cruiser 2012 and the Glacier Bay 3480 Hardtop Ocean Runner 2013 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Glacier Bay 3470 Express Cruiser 2012 at 37,5 ft versus Glacier Bay 3480 Hardtop Ocean Runner 2013 at 37,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Glacier Bay 3480 Hardtop Ocean Runner 2013 tips the scales at 16 900 lbs - 500 lbs less than the Glacier Bay 3470 Express Cruiser 2012 at 16 400 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 2 hp for the Glacier Bay 3470 Express Cruiser 2012 and 2 hp for the Glacier Bay 3480 Hardtop Ocean Runner 2013. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 150 gal and 150 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 11 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.