When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Glastron MX 180 2013 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 MX 180 2013 at 17,1 ft versus Glastron SSV 170 2011 at 16,9 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Glastron MX 180 2013 tips the scales at 195 lbs — 183 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 Glastron SSV 170 2011 tops out at 115 hp. Engine specs for the Glastron MX 180 2013 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 23 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Glastron MX 180 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Glastron SSV 170 2011 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Glastron MX 180 2013 could be the deciding factor.