When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Glastron GLS 235 2009 and the Glastron GS 259 2012 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Glastron GLS 235 2009 at 23,0 ft versus Glastron GS 259 2012 at 24,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Glastron GS 259 2012 tips the scales at 545 lbs — 137 lbs less than the Glastron GLS 235 2009 at 408 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 GS 259 2012 tops out at 300 hp. Engine specs for the Glastron GLS 235 2009 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.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 GLS 235 2009 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Glastron GS 259 2012 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Glastron GLS 235 2009 could be the deciding factor.