Impression of Glastron Boats?

[Chrisbriggs1998]

I grew up around sailboats and i know the names to watch for and the names to aviod in sailboats but i am buying a Bowrider and i am a little unsure of what names to watch for and what to aviod. I know to stay clear of bayliner but what about Glastron? I am looking for a middle of the line openbow ski/fish bowrider about 17 ft with the 4.3l. The glastrons seam to be in the middle of the price spectrum. How do the hold up? How is the build quality? How is glastron as a company? Any info would help thanks.<br /><br />Chris

 

[KCook]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

I started out with sail too. For low priced boats, I would not cross off Bayliner. If you take in all bowriders, not just the 17' size, Glastron should be below the mid-point. However, many lines don't go below 18', so this may skew the price selection somewhat. For about the same $$ you can include boats by Caravelle, Ebbtide, and Maxum.<br /><br />There are many facets to judging quality and value. So don't expect to find much agreement.<br /><br />Use the search option on this message board and you will find lots of existing threads on Glastron. Or any other brand of interest. Here is just one example -<br />www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001123<br /><br />In a similar fashion you can find more threads on other sites, such as -<br />www.boatus.com<br />www.goboatingamerica.com<br />www.trailerboats.com<br /><br />Enjoy the bedlam!<br />Kelly Cook

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

Glastron makes a good solid boat. Some of the older ones (1960-1970's) should be inspected for transom/floor rot. Their hull design was one of the top in the industry for a long time.<br /><br />The 17' with a 4.3 is a good boat, check on the maintenance history. That boat will probably do everything you want (it is small for ocean work).<br /><br />Shop, have fun.<br /><br />Bob

 

[lepper]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

Hey, I currently own a 67' 17,6 Glastron with a 75hp 1990 mariner, the swinger I belive. and I love the boat, open bow, tri hull, Good solid boat. I was able to get this from an old boy who kept it garaged for its whole life. and it has no dry rot or anything. excellent shape. so I would say a glastron is a good boat, providing the owner before you took excellent care of it.. <br /><br />but I am going to pick me up an alumaweld..... so I will be getting rid of my glastron.. wanna buy it!?

 

[Chrisbriggs1998]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

I am looking in the 96-99 year range. Sounds like a nice boat though. Glad to hear that its still on the water have all these years. Must mean they make good boats.<br /><br />Chris

 

[LOLHJ]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

I would agree they are nice boats. My buddy has a very old 14' V hull, all original floor, transom, ect. Its just now starting to rot- its close to 40 years old- and was given to him, was stored in a field uncovered for who knows how long.<br />-John

 

[Solittle]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

Had a 1970 19' Glastron tri that I got in 75. Ran that sucker all around south Florida with my family of five for 15 years. Had to replace the floor in the early 80s. Best for the buck then. No experience with the newer ones though.

 

[Chrisbriggs1998]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

Thanks for all the replys everyone. I am looking at a 96 17 foot with the 4.3 A little older then i wanted but the price is right. Anyone else own a glaston boat?<br /><br />Chris

 

[YellowTJ]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

I purchased a 94 Glastron 17.5 fish & ski last spring with a merc 3.0. The boat has been great and has met my needs (fishing, pleasure boating, pulling the kids on a tube). Solidily built boat with some convenient features throughout.

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

My 74 CV16 is still rock solid after all these years. The loyalty to these boats is well documented at www.classicglastron.com. People love these boats.<br /><br />The newer ones are good solid affordable boats if well taken care of. My brother-in-law just picked up a new glastron this year. I have not heard any rants aginst the newer glastrons in my 7 years as a Glastron owner.

 

[jasonnb]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

I own 2 1976 Glastrons. Both are solid as rocks after all the years. If we were looking for a newer boat, my list would start with Glastron at the top and Larson second. Esp. the larger outboard runabout fish/ski.

 

[rpstrickland]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

I looked at all sorts of Boats and I decided to get a 2003 Glastron GX with a 4.3 liter Volvo engine set up. I looked at Bayliner, Crownline, Mariah, Regal,Larson, Caravelle (Intercepter), Four Winns and I just kept coming back to Glastron. And her is why. The hull is made completely out of fiberglass and is patented. I had a 1986 Sea Arrow with a rotten transome and needed a new boat. I looked at the preformance of the Glastron vrs a Caravelle Intercepter (19 foot) and the Glastron Matched it and was thousands less. The others just did not match the value of the Glastron. I concluded it was a very good mid range boat with a good reputation and prefromance as good or better than any in its class. I compared two 18 foot regals and the Glastron with the same engine set up went 1/3 longer on a tank of gas. Wow the Patented VEC hull really does make a difference. The SSV is world famous for stability speed and handling. Then I looked into the Glastron history. Elvis had one James Bond drove one in Live and Let Die (what a great Chase scene). The Original Bat Boat was a Glastron back in the 1960's and last but not least the British Royal Family has had Glastrons. I figure if they are Good enough for the King of Rock and Roll the Queen of England BatMan and James Bond it is good enough for me.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

I own one, they just seem to be smartly built boats without all the padding and fluff. I could use a bit more storage, but then I think that's pretty common with any boat. I am a bit dubious of the screws that have no backing, I had to rescrew the Port windshield as two of them stripped and the rest came loose, after less then 4 months, also took it back to the dealer because the ski locker screws were way to small and didn't bite into anything, thus the cover came right off. I figure theres always a bit of a shake down period on any boat though, and so far those are two very minor problems in my books. A little 5200 silicon on the screws and they hold real good now. Only the items like cleats, hand rails, seats...etc seem to have any backing for the screws, although all that backing is stainless or aluminum metal and not wood! So for that sake of a couple of loose screws I am still very happy with it. Very very stable in rough water, and very quick considering it's got the little 4.3 in it.

Ian

 

[crazy bob]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

I own 2 glastrons, one 85 Conroy cvx19, 5.0 mercruser alpha1 great boat, 47mph w/3ppl. second a 77Carlson cv23 jet drive 460 mercuser , beautiful cannot describe her. When we are on the lake, shes the most unique boat out there, nothing else looks like her,and everybody notices her and waves. She'l do about 62mph in stock form. Yes, the glastrons are some of the best out there for shure.

 

[allpoints360]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

Glastron is like the Chevrolet of the runabout motorboat. Some are better than others, but some are classic.

Btw, Chevy trucks are the best. Ha!

 

[dorelse]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

Well, I'm restoring a 1978 Glastron Carlson CVZ-18. I love them, but like anything else, park it out in the weather for 30+ years...guess what, it'll rot just like every other boat from that era.

They are a very good quality boat. Typically, they aren't the Cadillac version with Italian Leather seats, etc, but they make a very good boat.

 

[mrcool]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

I have a Glastron 151 ssv and love it, it's fast and handles well, it's a classic design and I get thumbs up all the time with it.. I would buy another, most of the classic Glastrons were the corvettes of the water.

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

Glastron is an icon in the fiberglass boat industry.
I have owned Glastrons and would not hesitate to buy another one.

 

[jhs5150]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

I always liked Glastrons. Larson makes a good boat also.

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: Impression of Glastron Boats?

We just sold our 1997 GS 180. Hated to let it go. Quality is pretty good some fit n finish issues but ours had been abused before we got it so that may not be a problem.

Got rid of it only cuz we wanted a little bigger and newer. Really all we wanted was our Glastron in perfect condition. Rode great, better than the new boat does, smoooth ride. Fast for teh horsepower it had. Loved it really did. I would not hesitate to buy another ine in the future if one comes along.
Good boats all around!
Good luck and happy shopping