Glastron DS 215 2006 vs Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the Glastron DS 215 2006 or the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012?

The Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 is the longer of the two at 20,8 feet overall. The Glastron DS 215 2006 comes in at 20,0 feet, making it roughly 0,8 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the Glastron DS 215 2006 or the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012?

For trailering, the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 has the edge at 3 600 lbs dry weight versus 3 680 lbs for the Glastron DS 215 2006. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Glastron DS 215 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 is certified for 13. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing - on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Glastron DS 215 2006 and Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 share an 102 in. (2.59 m) beam - meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Glastron DS 215 2006 and Glastron DS 215 DB 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads - 56 gallons and 56 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Glastron DS 215 2006 and Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Glastron DS 215 2006 and the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 are built by Glastron. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Glastron DS 215 2006 vs Glastron DS 215 DB 2012

Glastron

Glastron DS 215 2006

2006

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Glastron

Glastron DS 215 DB 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Glastron DS 215 2006 vs Glastron DS 215 DB 2012: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Glastron DS 215 2006 vs Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story: intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Glastron DS 215 2006 at 20,0 ft versus Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 at 20,8 ft. At 3 680 lbs and 3 600 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class - either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 300 hp for the Glastron DS 215 2006 and 300 hp for the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012. 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 - 56 gal and 56 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Glastron DS 215 2006 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 13 passengers and at 20,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Glastron DS 215 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeGlastron

ModelDS 215

ModelDS 215 DB

Model Year2006

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise16℃

Deadrise16°

Depth - Detail57.5 in. (1.46 m) Cockpit: 28.5 in. (.72 m)

Depth - Detail57.5 in. (1.46 m) Cockpit: 28.5 in. (0.72 m)

Depth - Centimeters147.32

Depth - Inches57.5

Draft [max] - Detail30 in. (.76 m)

Draft [max] - Detail30 in. (0.76 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.76

Draft [max] - Inches30

Weight - Detailw/ 5.0 GXi Volvo Penta?: 3,680 lbs. (1,670 kg)

Weight - Detail3,600 lbs. (1,633 kg)

Weight - kg1669.22

Weight - kg1632.93

Weight - lbs.3680

Weight - lbs.3600

Width [transom] - Detail96 in. (2.44 m)

Length - Feet20

Length - Feet20.83

Length - Inches11

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 11 in. (6.38 m)

Length overall - Meters6.38

Length overall - Inches251

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standard4.3 GL Volvo Penta?

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail56 gal. (212 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters211.98

Fuel tank capacity - Gal56

Drive typeI/O

Engine max300 hp

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMercury

Engine modelnot available

Engine model4.3L MPI EC MerCruiser

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower220 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,950 lbs. (885 kg)

Maximum capacity1,900 lbs. (862 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people13 or 1,800 lbs. (816 kg)

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all23 ft. 9 in. (7.24 m)

Glastron DS 215 2006 vs Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the Glastron DS 215 2006 or the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012?

The Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 is the longer of the two at 20,8 feet overall. The Glastron DS 215 2006 comes in at 20,0 feet, making it roughly 0,8 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer - the Glastron DS 215 2006 or the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012?

For trailering, the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 has the edge at 3 600 lbs dry weight versus 3 680 lbs for the Glastron DS 215 2006. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Glastron DS 215 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 is certified for 13. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing - on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Glastron DS 215 2006 and Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 share an 102 in. (2.59 m) beam - meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Glastron DS 215 2006 and Glastron DS 215 DB 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads - 56 gallons and 56 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Glastron DS 215 2006 and Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Glastron DS 215 2006 and the Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 are built by Glastron. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Glastron DS 215 2006 full specs ← Glastron DS 215 DB 2012 full specs