Unexpected Class in an Affordable Boat
By Captain Keith Burton
When a boat building company has built its reputation on sleek, affordable and fast runabouts, any new boat from that company has to live up to an expected legacy. That’s where I found Glastron’s new GT series, which includes the GT 205, the subject of this review, and its smaller brother, the GT 185.
The folks at Glastron say the GT series is the next level up for boat buyers who want a perhaps bigger or more feature-rich boat, but are still faced with tight budgets. And while many other boat builders would just de-content a boat to fit the bill, Glastron chose to design their mid-level boat purposefully for the task. What that means for the consumer is that you get a boat that for all the practical reasons, seems to be remarkable upscale.
VEC Construction
One of the key benefits of being a big successful boat builder is experience and access to the latest technology in boat building. For Glastron, that technology is represented in their proprietary VEC process. This advanced, computerized system allows boats to be constructed in basically two pieces. A strong fiberglass hull with imbedded built-in stringers is attached to a fully one-piece deck assembly, which together, form a boat that is super stiff and free from most of the vibrations that other boat designs experience. You also get a more consistent build quality.
In the GT 205, this super stiff hull design translates into a boat that is unusually quiet hitting waves and wakes. And the vibrations are substantially reduced from the engine bay. It is a noticeable feature and adds to a premium feel to the way this boat goes about its business, much in the way a luxury car is always more substantial and quieter than a lesser car of the same size.
Our test model came equipped with a sleek Roswell wakeboard tower, which goes to show you that Glastron has designed the GT 205 to accommodate the type of activities people want in boats today.
Upscale Features
At the bow, Glastron’s designers placed a neat non-skid step to ease getting aboard when you beach the boat. The bow seating is expansive and comfortable as befitting a bowrider. The seats lift up to reveal fully lined and drained storage areas that you would normally see on a premium boat.
Moving through the walkthrough windshield you find stainless steel windshield supports that do double duty as handholds. This is also an upscale feature. Glastron could have just used aluminum struts to support the windshield, but they didn’t here and it is a nice touch.
The helm is fully equipped with attractive gauges set within a convincing plastic wood trim. The main switches are lighted rockers backed up by circuit breakers instead of fuses.
The captain’s seat and main passenger seat are stylish buckets with plenty of fanny room. The seats swivel and move forward and aft. Options include a similar seat with fold up bolters.
The GT 205 features a roomy deck with plenty of storage compartments and an easy-to-clean fiberglass floor. Snap in carpet is an option.
Seating & More
The rear seating is an expansive bench seat that covers three storage compartments. Drinkholders are scattered throughout the cabin within easy reach of the seats. At the stern is a large full-width sunpad. The sunpad is not just a big flat padded surface. Glastron’s designers incorporated a bit of nostalgia here in the sunpad’s design. The look is a modern interpretation of some of Glastron’s earlier boats, crafted in tucked and pleated vinyl for a sleek look. A full-width ski platform and stainless steel ladder round out the stern.
Engine access and a lot of storage space is through a hatch that also lifts the sun lounge. While lifting the large cover is assisted with hydraulic struts, the struts are narrow and look a bit vulnerable to frequent use, but they do their jobs well.
Performance & Ride
Over the water, the solid construction of the VEC engineered hull translates into a boat that slices easily through rough water and wakes without the usual slapping noises you hear in other boats. Steering with the standard power steering is light and the boat cuts sharply into turns. On test day we reached a top speed of 53.2 mph turning 4750 rpm and a cruise speed of 31.1 mph at 3000 rpm. Overall, this is an easy boat to navigate and new owners should feel quickly at ease in driving the GT 205.
What is clear about the Glastron GT 205 is that the company’s reputation for building class-leading runabouts is quite safe. For boat owners looking to trade up and still want to watch what they spend, the Glastron GT 205 has a lot to offer. It is truly a mid-level boat with premium performance and style.
