When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Glastron GTS 185 2013 and the Glastron MX 185 2012 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 GTS 185 2013 at 18,0 ft versus Glastron MX 185 2012 at 18,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Glastron MX 185 2012 tips the scales at 228 lbs — 204 lbs less than the Glastron GTS 185 2013 at 24 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 Glastron MX 185 2012 tops out at 220 hp. Engine specs for the Glastron GTS 185 2013 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Glastron GTS 185 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Glastron MX 185 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Glastron GTS 185 2013 could be the deciding factor.