Glastron DS 215 2013 vs Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Glastron DS 215 2013 or the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007?

The Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 is the longer of the two at 23,0 feet overall. The Glastron DS 215 2013 comes in at 20,9 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Glastron DS 215 2013 or the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007?

For trailering, the Glastron DS 215 2013 has the edge at 36 lbs dry weight versus 3 025 lbs for the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007. 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 has a documented max rating of 270 hp. Engine specifications for the Glastron DS 215 2013 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Glastron DS 215 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 is certified for 7. 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 2013 and Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 share an 8 ft. 6 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Glastron DS 215 2013 or the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007?

The Glastron DS 215 2013 has the bigger tank at 56 gallons, versus 47 gallons on the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Glastron DS 215 2013 and Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Glastron DS 215 2013 and the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 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 2013 vs Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007

Glastron

Glastron DS 215 2013

2013

View full specs →

Glastron

Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007

2007

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Glastron DS 215 2013 vs Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Glastron DS 215 2013 vs Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 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 2013 at 20,9 ft versus Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 at 23,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 tips the scales at 3 025 lbs — 2 989 lbs less than the Glastron DS 215 2013 at 36 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 Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 tops out at 270 hp. Engine specs for the Glastron DS 215 2013 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Glastron DS 215 2013 carries 56 gallons versus 47 gallons in the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Glastron DS 215 2013 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Glastron DS 215 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Glastron DS 215 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 20,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeGlastron

ModelDS 215

ModelGXL 235 Bowrider

Model Year2013

Model Year2007

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise16°

Deadrise21℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail14 in. (36 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.36

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches14

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

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

Draft [max] - Detail33 in. (.84 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.76

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Inches3

Draft [max] - Inches33

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

Weight - Detail3,025 lbs. (1,370 kg) w/5.0 GL Volvo Penta

Weight - kg1632.93

Weight - kg1372.12

Weight - lbs.36

Weight - lbs.3025

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

Width [transom] - Detail98 in. (2.49 m)

Height - Detail4 ft. 10 in. (1.46 m)

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters1.47

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches58

Height - Inchesnot available

Length - Feet20.92

Length - Feet23

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

Length overall - Detail23 ft. (7.01 m)

Length overall - Meters6.38

Length overall - Meters7.01

Length overall - Inches251

Length overall - Inches276

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail53 in. (1.35 m) Cockpit: 37 in. (.94 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters134.62

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches53

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters7.01

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail56 gal. (212 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail47 gal. (178 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters211.98

Fuel tank capacity - Liters177.91

Fuel tank capacity - Gal56

Fuel tank capacity - Gal47

Fuel typeGas

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standard5.0 GXi Volvo Penta

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Engine maxnot available

Engine max270 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,900 lbs. (862 kg)

Maximum capacity1,650 lbs. (748 kg)

Maximum people13

Maximum peoplenot available

Trailer Info

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

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Weight1,163 lbs. (528 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - DetailEZ Loader EXL 5200 (painted)

Glastron DS 215 2013 vs Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Glastron DS 215 2013 or the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007?

The Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 is the longer of the two at 23,0 feet overall. The Glastron DS 215 2013 comes in at 20,9 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Glastron DS 215 2013 or the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007?

For trailering, the Glastron DS 215 2013 has the edge at 36 lbs dry weight versus 3 025 lbs for the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007. 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 has a documented max rating of 270 hp. Engine specifications for the Glastron DS 215 2013 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Glastron DS 215 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 is certified for 7. 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 2013 and Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 share an 8 ft. 6 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Glastron DS 215 2013 or the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007?

The Glastron DS 215 2013 has the bigger tank at 56 gallons, versus 47 gallons on the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Glastron DS 215 2013 and Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Glastron DS 215 2013 and the Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 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 2013 full specs ← Glastron GXL 235 Bowrider 2007 full specs