When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Glastron GT 209 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Glastron SSV 170 2009 measures 16,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 14,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Glastron GT 209 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Glastron GT 209 2009 tips the scales at 2 832 lbs — 2 820 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 209 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 209 2009 could be the deciding factor.