When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Glastron GLS 255 2010 and the Glastron GS 289 2009 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 255 2010 at 25,3 ft versus Glastron GS 289 2009 at 28,0 ft. At 46 lbs and 65 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Glastron GLS 255 2010 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Glastron GS 289 2009 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 255 2010 could be the deciding factor.