When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Glastron GLS 195 2009 and the Glastron GS 289 2013 are deep vee 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 Glastron GS 289 2013 measures 28,8 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 9,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Glastron GLS 195 2009 at 19,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Glastron GLS 195 2009 tips the scales at 2 915 lbs — 2 850 lbs more than the Glastron GS 289 2013 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Glastron GLS 195 2009 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Glastron GS 289 2013 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Glastron GLS 195 2009 could be the deciding factor.