Glastron GT 185 2009 vs Glastron SSV 170 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Glastron GT 185 2009 or the Glastron SSV 170 2009?

The Glastron GT 185 2009 is the longer of the two at 18,0 feet overall. The Glastron SSV 170 2009 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 2,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Glastron GT 185 2009 or the Glastron SSV 170 2009?

For trailering, the Glastron SSV 170 2009 has the edge at 12 lbs dry weight versus 2 315 lbs for the Glastron GT 185 2009. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Glastron GT 185 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Glastron SSV 170 2009 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Glastron GT 185 2009 and Glastron SSV 170 2009 share an 88 in. (2.24 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Glastron GT 185 2009 and Glastron SSV 170 2009?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 23 gallons and 23 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Glastron GT 185 2009 and Glastron SSV 170 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Glastron GT 185 2009 and the Glastron SSV 170 2009 are built by Glastron. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Glastron GT 185 2009 vs Glastron SSV 170 2009

Glastron

Glastron GT 185 2009

2009

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Glastron

Glastron SSV 170 2009

2009

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Glastron GT 185 2009 vs Glastron SSV 170 2009 — A Close Look at Two Deep Vees

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Glastron GT 185 2009 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Glastron GT 185 2009 at 18,0 ft versus Glastron SSV 170 2009 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Glastron GT 185 2009 tips the scales at 2 315 lbs — 2 303 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 GT 185 2009 is rated for 8 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 GT 185 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Glastron GT 185 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Glastron SSV 170 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeGlastron

ModelGT 185

ModelSSV 17

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam88 in. (2.24 m)

Beam - Meters2.24

Beam - Inches88

Deadrise21℃

Depth - Detail44 in. (1.12 m) Cockpit: 28.5 in. (0.72 m)

Depth - Detail43 in. (1.09 m) Cockpit: 28.5 in. (0.72 m)

Depth - Centimeters111.76

Depth - Centimeters109.22

Depth - Inches44

Depth - Inches43

Draft [max] - Detail31 in. (0.79 m)

Draft [max] - Detail28.5 in. (0.72 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.79

Draft [max] - Meters0.74

Draft [max] - Inches31

Draft [max] - Inches28.5

Weight - Detail2,315 lbs. (1,050 kg)

Weight - Detail1,200 lbs. (544 kg) w/o engine

Weight - kg1050.07

Weight - kg544.31

Weight - lbs.2315

Weight - lbs.12

Width [transom] - Detail86 in. (2.18 m)

Length - Meters5.61

Length - Meters5.16

Length - Feet18

Length - Feet16

Length - Inches5

Length - Inches11

Length [over all with swim platform]18 ft. 5 in. (5.61 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 11 in. (5.16 m)

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Meters5.16

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Inches203

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal. (87 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06

Fuel tank capacity - Gal23

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,150 lbs. (522 kg)

Maximum capacity1,100 lbs. (499 kg)

Maximum people8

Maximum people7

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all21 ft. 10 in. (6.65 m)

Trailer - Length over all21 ft. 6 in. (6.55 m)

Glastron GT 185 2009 vs Glastron SSV 170 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Glastron GT 185 2009 or the Glastron SSV 170 2009?

The Glastron GT 185 2009 is the longer of the two at 18,0 feet overall. The Glastron SSV 170 2009 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 2,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Glastron GT 185 2009 or the Glastron SSV 170 2009?

For trailering, the Glastron SSV 170 2009 has the edge at 12 lbs dry weight versus 2 315 lbs for the Glastron GT 185 2009. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Glastron GT 185 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Glastron SSV 170 2009 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Glastron GT 185 2009 and Glastron SSV 170 2009 share an 88 in. (2.24 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Glastron GT 185 2009 and Glastron SSV 170 2009?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 23 gallons and 23 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Glastron GT 185 2009 and Glastron SSV 170 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Glastron GT 185 2009 and the Glastron SSV 170 2009 are built by Glastron. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Glastron GT 185 2009 full specs ← Glastron SSV 170 2009 full specs