Glastron GS 289 Sport Cruiser
By Capt. Rob Smith
As queen of Glastron’s Sport Cruisers, the all-new GS 289 has the special features and amenities one might expect. The Glastron cruisers have served the company well, so it made sense to build an even larger boat. Glastron has certainly put the extras in: you’ll find Alphastone counters, lots of stainless steel hardware, plush leatherette upholstery, and brushed chrome accents. Glastron didn’t let all that beauty stop the performance either. I clocked a top end of over 40 mph with a single 300-hp sterndrive.
Enter from the stern
The primary entrance is across the stern optional extended swim platform. A large swim platform really adds to the enjoyment on any cruiser. It has a stainless steel bar around the trailing edge, something easy and safe to hold onto when in the water, and a sign of a builder thinking about his customer. The swim shower on the GS 289 is standard as well as a three step swim ladder. Glastron went the extra mile on stainless on this model. The engine vents are extremely heavy duty and will last as long as the boat does. The rub rail has a stainless steel insert to match the rails and grab bars. The test model had the optional arch that looks nice and adds a high point to mount antennas and canvas.
Into the cockpit
Much of what you do in a cruiser involves entertaining. The GS 289 has a cockpit wet bar on the portside just forward of the transom gate. The dual voltage refrigerator is standard, not optional. Seating in the stern is a removable bench seat. I really like that feature as it adds versatility to the design. If I want to go fishing, I can leave the bench at the docks and have more room for the guys to work lines.
Glastron also, wisely, chose to have standard snap-in carpet that can be removed to keep it clean when fishing. It has a teak deck look to it and is rather plush. In addition to the stern bench, there is a port side lounger and a double wide helm seat.
At the Helm
Moving to the helm, instrumentation included all the basics with wood grain accent panels to dress up the looks and match the wood wheel. Glastron reserved the space in the middle of the dash panel to add flat screen electronics like a C70 display and a DSM30 depth finder. Sitting at the helm, I was looking through the center of the windshield. Up on the bolster, I was clearly looking over it. The seat uses up all the space it can, so when standing with the bolster up it still touches the back of my legs. I didn’t feel too cramped, but I didn’t have much room to roam at the wheel.
Visibility at the helm was adequate, although the horizon out of the hole was obscured somewhat by the rails and window frame. Standing up is a must when getting on plane or you can choose to sit up on the bolster. When standing I found the adjusting bar for the helm seat hit the back of my legs. This tight fit is not uncommon on boats and is something prospective buyers would always check.
The trim tab switches were where I like them -- ahead of the throttle within easy reach underway. The compass was plenty large to take a bearing or to easily steer a course. Drink holders around the cockpit are all stainless steel. The driver’s drink holder is at the level of my right ankle. This is an unusual placement, but I think I like it because it is in the shade, making the ice last longer, and the beverage is less likely to slosh out! Placing the drink holder low also doesn’t take up valuable dash real estate.
There is a top-mounted windshield wiper. This location of the wiper motor does interfere with clear lines of visibility port of centerline somewhat.
Going forward
Getting to the bow is rather easy with room to pass on either the port or starboard side decks, but I preferred the direct route through the curved walkthrough windshield. Actually, I prefer to use the remote control for the spotlight and the optional windlass and just look out over the bow, but sometimes you have to bite the bullet and go forward.
Below Deck
At the foot of the steps I measured the distance from the cabin sole to the overhead – exactly 6’ The galley has all the typical appliances; microwave, dual voltage refrigerator/freezer, electric stove and sink. The Alphastone counters make the galley look classy. Pantry storage is across from the galley next to the head.
Sole to ceiling height in the head measured 65”, not bad for this size cruiser, but still meant I had to bend over while standing in there. It does have a full length mirror on the back of the door, something that is becoming rare on many cruisers today. I am happy to report that there is an electric china toilet bowl.
The mid cabin turned out to be more comfortable than I expected. Often they are what I call a kid’s cave or big gear locker. This one is 95” across and has 35” mattress-to-ceiling height. The mattress is 45” wide, so two could snuggle up here for the night (I definitely would want to have a generator and A/C in Florida or other hot climates).
The solid wood dinette table converts easily into a berth. The leatherette upholstery was super fine. It looks great, it feels great and I bet it sleeps great. If you’re going to spend a lot of time onboard, I would also recommend the optional flat screen TV. The floor of the is a lament wood floor which is a very nice feature. An AM/FM/CD Sirius Satellite ready radio with four speakers is standard, but adding the TV with DVD really expands the entertainment possibilities, especially with kids onboard.
Specifications
The GS 289 measures 28’10”, 30’4” with the optional extended swim platform which I couldn’t imagine doing without. Her beam is 9’1” and she weighs about 6500 lbs. dry, and she comes standard with the 300 hp Volvo 5.7L Gi DP for power. Her draft is approximately 28” with the sterndrive trimmed up and 41” with it trimmed all the way down. She carries 84 gallons of fuel which should give you a full day of fun on the water or even a weekend getaway.
Test results
I tested the GS 289 on an inland lake with ½ tank of fuel and only 3 people onboard. She took 6.4 seconds to get on plane and reached 30 mph in 12.5 seconds. I clocked a top speed of 41.6 mph burning 21.8 gph, but at a more reasonable cruising speed of 25.8 mph she burns 11.4 gph delivering about 172 miles on a full tank of fuel. Glastron offers multiple engine packages up to 375 hp from either Volvo or MerCruiser.
The GS 289 handled quite well. I did some nice wide turns, and she kept in the water well. She likes a lot of trim when you’re out underway. With 300 hp 5.7L Volvo we got just over 41 mph. A little slow out of the hole, a little slow up to 30 mph, but you trade that off against the fuel efficiency at best cruise while on plane. If you want to pop skiers up in a heartbeat, you might want to consider a larger engine.
Overall, Glastron did a good job in building an affordable cruiser. This boat starts at $78,053 with a Volvo Penta 300 hp 5.7 Gi DP. I liked some of the options like the air conditioning, windlass and TV/DVD. Glastron also has more nice options you can add to dress her out to the nines. This cruiser will certainly get you into the lifestyle, so make sure it is on your list of cruisers to test for yourself before you decide.
