When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Glastron GT 185 2008 and the Glastron SSV 170 2011 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 GT 185 2008 at 18,0 ft versus Glastron SSV 170 2011 at 16,9 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Glastron GT 185 2008 tips the scales at 2 315 lbs — 2 303 lbs more than the Glastron SSV 170 2011 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 190 hp, the Glastron GT 185 2008 has a 75-hp advantage over the Glastron SSV 170 2011's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 23 gal and 23 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Glastron SSV 170 2011 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 12 lbs per hp for the Glastron GT 185 2008. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.