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| Reprinted from Go Boating, June 2007 |
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Glastron is a name you might have seen in the deck boat and small cruiser market in recent years, but make no mistake, the company’s focus is still on bowriders. With more than 50 years of experience, Glastron has honed its skills to produce great boats in its more popular category, bowriders from 17 to 25 feet.
Glastron has three main product lines for its boats—the value priced MX series, the mass-appeal GT series and the GXL line of more fully equipped bowriders and fish ‘n’skis. Though the GT 205 series falls in the middle of the company’s product line, it still benefits from Glastron’s half century in the business. The two most important elements of the company’s design philosophy are good utilization of design layout/passenger space and quality construction.
The focus on family friendly design and good utilization of space can be seen throughout the GT 205—from the seating clearances to the walk-through windshield—but what gets Glastron most excited about this nine-passenger boat is its Virtual Engineered Composite (VEC®) construction.
This advanced, computerized VEC system isn’t unique because it uses no wood (although there is none) during production; it’s that the hull and stringer are constructed as one piece. Many companies use an open-mold system for their fiberglass hulls, but Glastron uses a closed-mold system to become the only company in the industry to make its hull and stringer as one solid piece. The VEC system also allows Glastron’s boats to have a standard, consistent thickness throughout for overall durability.
The deck is also constructed as a unitized piece, so once connected with the hull the boat literally only has a two-piece construction. What this means to you is more structural integrity for a firm, sturdy and quiet ride, as there aren’t the seams and joints present on most boats that can create a rattling and squeaky ride.
Passengers will find the open bow offers a good amount of space. The front seat lifts to offer a nonskid step for boarding the boat, and the side seats lift to reveal fully drainable storage areas. The cockpit seating offers two adjustable bucket seats with bench seating at the stern. For those looking to get wet, the extended swim platform is an attractive standard feature, and it has a three-step telescopic ladder for reboarding.
Notable standard features include a walk-through curved windshield, an in-floor ski locker, a ski tow ring, a padded sunlounge at the stern and an AM/FM/CD player with two speakers.
For those looking to get a few extra features on their GT 205, Glastron made it simple by packaging the typical upgrades most dealers order into one setup. Its XL Package, for instance, has an MSRP of $1,132 and includes tilt steering, a full side glass windshield, an hour meter and depth sounder, flip-up helm seat, snap-in carpet and aluminum rubrail trim. Other than a wakeboard tower, there aren’t a lot of other options, which is nice because it makes it easier for buyers who may be new to the market.
Performance
The standard power on the Glastron GT 205 is a 135 hp sterndrive, which helps keep the MSRP of the boat to about $20,000. We were fortunate to test the GT 205 with a 270 hp Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi engine ($24,880), and we would argue the extra money is well worth it considering the performance gains.
Out of the gates, we learned the Glastron GT 205 is a carver. The 20-foot, 8-inch boat takes turns in a crisp, decisive manner—which can in part be due to the boat’s VEC building process. It feels sturdy through turns, takes light chop with no issues, tracks straight and offers great predictability.
The extra power afforded by the 270 hp Volvo engine gave our test craft a peak speed of 55.5 mph. The GT 205 really jumps out of the hole with its on-plane time of 3.6 seconds. For a sterndrive engine, we felt the GT 205 has impressive acceleration. Match the power with the nimble handling of the boat, and the GT 205 offers a high fun factor for the driver.
Overall
The Glastron GT 205 is a mid-level boat that looks and feels like a more expensive bowrider. Sure, the boat’s not over the top and flashy, but Glastron really did its homework and got all of the basics right. For the price and the level of performance, the GT 205 offers more than enough features to keep owners and passengers happy. With our test power and the standard EZ Loader trailer, the price comes out to just under $25,000. Add taxes and the key option package and you’re still looking at an affordable price right around $30,000.
Specifications
Length: 20’ 8”
Beam: 7’ 8”
Capacity: 9 people
Dry Weight: 2,800 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 35 gals.
Maximum Power: 270 hp
Deadrise (@ transom): 21 degrees
Performance |
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MPR |
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RPM |
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MPG |
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RANGE1 |
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DBA |
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| Peak |
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55.5 |
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5000 |
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2.68 |
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84 |
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93 |
| Cruise |
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30.1 |
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3000 |
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4.30 |
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135 |
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81 |
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Test Power
Motor: 270 hp Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi
Prop Set: 21-pitch 3-blade aluminum
Base Price(
with test power): $24,880
Notable Options
Wakeboard tower($2,260)
High altitude prop ($35)
Full side glass windshield ($132)
Convenience Package (hour meter, depth sounder - $399)
XL Package (tilt wheel, full side glass windshield, convenience package, flip-up helm seat, snap-in carpet, aluminum rubrail trim w/black insert - $1,132)
Notable Standards
Extended swim platform w/3-step telescopic ladder
AM/FM/CD stereo w/2 speakers
Adjustable deluxe bucket seats
Two-tone deck & hull graphics
EZ Loader color-matched trailer |
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for GT 205 photos, specifications, options, etc. |
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| © 2007 Glastron Boats |
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