High Style Meets Affordability
By Captain Keith Burton
For more than 50 years Glastron has been building sporty and popular bowriders that have often been the envy of the boat building industry. That experience is reflected in a new series of boats that come in at the mid-level price range, but feature amenities that are often more associated with premium runabouts. The GT 185 is a good example of this series in an 18-foot model.
Retro Style
Glastron officials also incorporated a bit of a nostalgic look into the GT series with special graphics,especially at the stern where the sunpad vinyl carries a rolled and tucked look that was once part of Glastron’s sportboats years ago, but with a new, updated appearance.
Sitting in the water, the Glastron GT 185 is attractively sleek with graceful lines that make this boat appear to be moving even at the dock. It is both sporty and modern, but there is a classic sense to the proportions that make this boat look like it should cost more than it does. This design should appeal to folks looking for a boat that others will admire.
Bow Features
At the bow, there is a slight dip in the forward gunnel that allowed a small step to be included to help when boarding while the boat is beached. It is a nice touch and even adds to the style of the boat.
Anyone that has ever owned a boat with glued carpeting will appreciate the fully fiberglass floor of the GT 185. Snap-in carpeting is available as part of an optional XL package. Underneath the padded seats at the bow are fully lined and drained storage compartments, which are another feature more associated with premium boats.
Construction
Glastron’s advanced build process, which they called VEC, is applied to the GT 185. Basically, VEC is a computerized process that allows Glastron to build a boat in what is essentially two pieces. A fully molded hull, complete with embedded stringers is attached to a full deck. The result is a boat that is extremely stiff, with a build quality that is consistent throughout the process. This high level of quality is seen in the smooth fit and finish in the boat, but especially in the lack of noise and vibration when underway.
The Glastron GT 185 is quieter and smother underway than you would expect in an open runabout. The stiff hull quells engine vibrations and the noise of water slapping the hull, which plagues most boats of this type. The result adds to a real sense of quality.
At the Controls
Mid deck, the captain’s and main passenger benefit from comfortable bucket seats that rotate and move forward and aft. The helm is attractively laid out with easy-to-see gauges. An AM/FM/CD radio is mounted safely within a roomy dash compartment, which we wish had a lock.
At the deck in the traditional manner, is a large locker with plenty of room for skies and wakeboards.
Aft seating is a large bench seat with drinkholders at either end. Beneath the seat are three storage compartments that are open toward the bow for more storage. The seat does not lift and the storage compartments allow you to see what it there, but it also helps in helping whatever is stored to air dry.
At the stern is a large sunpad that is not just a flat piece of vinyl-covered foam. As we mentioned earlier, the sunpad forms a design element of the GT 185 and adds to the sleek look of this boat.
Engine access is through a large hatch underneath the sunpad and behind the rear seats. The hatch lifts fairly easily with the help of two small hydraulic pistons. Servicing the GT 185’s engine is snap as there is a huge amount of room around the engine, room to store additional equipment.
At the stern is a full-width extended swim platform complete with a three-step ladder and nearby grab bar.
Performance & Handling
Over the water the Glastron GT 185 is a smooth operator. She reached cruised at 17.4 mph turning 2500 rpm for a range of 131 miles. The solid VEC hull does its thing snuffing out waves and wakes. Steering is smooth and light with the standard power steering. Turn-in for fast maneuvering is precise and predictable. In a few words, the GT 185 handles well and anyone with any time in this boat will feel confident within a short while at the helm.
That confidence is also part of what makes this boat feel more upscale than it should. There is a real defined sense of thought that is evident in how this boat performs. While certainly this is a subjective issue, it is what makes this mid-level boat worth the money you paid for it and more.
Glastron’s VEC hull design allows the boat to be built lighter, but without sacrificing rigidity, so you get more out of the boat without having to use a larger engine. The standard power is either a 135 horsepower 3.0-liter MerCruiser or 3.0-liter GL Volvo Penta. Optional power is a 4.3-liter 190 horsepower V6 from Volvo or MerCruiser.
Overall, the Glastron GT 185 represents a great value in a mid-level boat. You get terrific engineering and design in a package that both looks good and should last for years of frequent use. It also performs with ease on the water, even without the biggest horsepower engines.
