When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Glastron GS 259 SC 2010 and the Glastron SSV 170 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Glastron GS 259 SC 2010 measures 24,8 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 8,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Glastron SSV 170 2009 at 16,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Glastron GS 259 SC 2010 tips the scales at 545 lbs — 533 lbs more than the Glastron SSV 170 2009 at 12 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 GS 259 SC 2010 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Glastron SSV 170 2009 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Glastron GS 259 SC 2010 could be the deciding factor.