Limitations of a Sports Cruiser

[Cat7Ken]

Hi - first post on here! (so please excuse naivety)

I may well purchase a Glastron GS279 sports cruiser in the next few days. It's 27.5ft with a single 170hp diesel Volvo, Garmin GPSMap 182C, and Simrad RD68 (plus echo sounder of course). It also has nav lights and a remote spotlight.

What are the limitations of such a boat. For example, let's say it was moored somewhere in Pembrokeshire, would it be safe and reasonable to take a day or two out cruising across Cardigan Bay, around Bardsey and Anglesey given that I plan to get trained to the right level? What sea conditions would preclude such a trip?

Or am I totally misguided and such a boat is really for speeding a couple of miles from its berth to be moored up in a sheltered bay to sip GandT's??

Your guidance would be very much appreciated.

Ken

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[Happy1]

Ken, PM me, I know about this boat if it is the one I think, does it have a bow thruster? I have the GS209 which I keep in a marina, and also trailer now and again. I have been looking at the GS279, it is very good value for money, but seems to have more cockpit space than down below. The KAD 32 is a good engine but I wanted to have a Sea trial to see how it performs. My little GS209 does 42knts, I would be looking at a vast reduction with that one. One engine will always be a risk if going far, but it is a calculated decision as to safety and economy, and having a back up plan.

I find that the Glastrons do not have the best of finishes, but better than some manufacturers, but then you are getting a lot of boat for the money, a couple of grand spent on the interior would smarten it up no end.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Happy1]

Ken, Got your PM, I have Pm'd you my telephone number, and yes it is the same boat, call me and I will tell you all about it /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Cat7Ken]

Does anybody else have any views on the advisability of getting adventurous (so to speak) in a sports cruiser?

Ken

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[TomIsitt]

I crossed the Channel several times in a 23ft sportsboat (Hamble to Normandy), and the staff of this magazine has just returned from a 1000 mile 7-day trip from Gothenburg in Sweden back to Lymington in our new 30ft Nimbus sports-cruiser. In the right conditions your Glastron is capable of cruising extensively...just don't over-stretch yourself or the boat, and beware the Menai straits.

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[Happy1]

Ken, after our conversation last night I remember I forgot to ask you what category rating the GS279 had, mine is a Cat C, The Sealine S28 for example is a Cat B. These will give an indication of the limitations of the boat. Last weekend I did Southampton to Cowes to Lymington to Yarmouth to Lyminton to Southampton in an afternoon, no problems even in the force 4/5. I guess you would have no problems with that bigger boat, but perhpas you are more exposed up there compared to the South. The rating will be shown on the CE plate by the throttle.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[DepSol]

First thing I would find out on the Glastron is how the hull is bonded to the top. Is it claw pop rivets or is it bolted. You will find that the GS209 is claw pop rivets which in my mind I would never buy a boat that isnt bolted together.

Secondly I don’t think the KAD 32 will have really enough power when you start adding a family and cutlery and water and fuel and dinghy etc etc to give you what you would end up wanting. I think you will quickly grow tired of it and once fully loaded getting on the plane will be an art in itself. A KAD 43 or 44 would be better suited to the job especially if you want to get more adventurous and if you hit heavier weather will have that bit more power to push you up the speed sapping waves.

There are certainly other models I would choose in this size range and the Glastron would probably be far down the list. Not saying American boats are crap, but they do push them out on a production line and work to a bonus therefore, if yours is last on the list to get the bonus and time is running out small items don’t get as much attention on them as they require.

A friend has a Maxum 2300 scr and has had the top come away from the bottom, the stalk switches snap off the window leaking, water ingress through stantions. And this was all within 6 months of having the boatt. I know of another Sea Ray (largish one) that has had repeated problems also. Noneof these have been satisfactorily resolved by warranty.

I suggest you shop around.

As far as cruising is concerned I cruise around the Channel Islands and adjacent French coast and have been out there in good and bad weather. I have had my fair share of problems but none that are related to the hull and its integrity.

Good luck and keep us posted. Remember a bargain is not always a bargain.


<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[Solitaire]

In nearly all cases, it is the limitation/expereince of the helm (driver) which will dictate how far you can go.As has been stated on other posts here, people have travelled across the channel in much smaller sports boats than the want you are considering. At 27.5 ft, the boat has considerable capabilitity for long journeys, the only thing I wonder at is the power package on that size boat given only one engine - it may well be the case that this is the reason its being sold!
Galstron is an American make and as such is likley to have been imported with a petrol engine. On looking at the power options supplied with this boat, the smallest single engine installation is a 5.7 litre 250 HP. This would suggest to me that there is a fair amount of weight and it needs this basic power to "perform".
I think (almost certain) the boat your looking at has been re-engined with the 170 hp diesel and that it has been found wanting in the power department.
As you are clearly new to power boating, I suggest you insist upon a sea trial and take someone with you who "knows" and has more experience. Boating is an expensive hobby, and buying the wrong boat to start with can lead to frustration as your knowlege grows. Buying a boat is the easy bit, getting rid of one takes a bit longer and if it has the wrong power package, be it petrol or diesel, can only make the situation worse.
You made mention of training - do it first. You will get a much better understanding of what you want/need/like/feel comfortable with. It would take far to long to go into all the pros and cons than this forum has space for. Before you decide look at as many boats as you can, compare. The internet has made these comparisons a lot easier than they used to be.

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[Solitaire]

I see you also think its going to be underpowered. I reckon it came in as a petrol boat, got too expensive (or blew up!) and was re-engined with the 170hp. If it had the Yanmar 240 I would be happier!/forums/images/icons/smile.gif. i don;t know how big the engine bay is, it may not have been able to take a six cylinder diesel.

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[andrewbarker]

You are probably the biggest limitation to your cruising ambitions. I've also crossed Southampton to Channel Islands several times single-handed in a 25 footer with a single engine. I prefer going solo on a long run in a small boat to a lot of company because it reduces the sense of liability - you're responsible for yourself and the boat but not for other people. Ask yourself: are you prepared for several hours at the controls in lumpy conditions? It's very different to helming a larger boat but still absolutely possible if you have the mental stamina to stick at it. If you're the sort of person to get paranoid out of sight of land (what's that funny noise, is it running out of fuel, is the GPS telling me the truth, oh God there's only 1 inch of plastic between me and 2000 feet of water etc) then don't do it. If you're not then the sense of achievement is greater in a small boat than a big one. You do, though, need to do far more planning & choose your days with more care.

Good luck with whatever you do decide to go with & if it's not perfect you can always sell & get something else!

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[Happy1]

This boat was not re-engined, it came into the UK with the KAD 32, as do most of the GS279,s now. I have traced where it was imported, who passed it on to who e.t.c. the only thing that put me off it was the fact that a bow thruster had been added, I spoke to Glastron in the US and they said that would invalidate the hull warranty (which is 5 yrs), The price advertised was £1k more than that of a new boat with a good discount, so adding the plotter, bowthruster and VHF, it was well overpriced IMHO. Funny thing is if you go to sell a boat they take off the VAT straight away, when you go to but one second had, it does not always work that way /forums/images/icons/wink.gif The dealer who has it seems very nice, and I am sure that they feel it is worth that much, but not me me when I can get a new one cheaper with a 5yr warranty. The bowthruster has been fitted by a reputable firm, but it is on the limits of size of boat that it could be fitted on, for a boat that size a bowthruster (so I have been reliably informed) is not really required, although handy in some situations. You have to look at it and see if it fits in with what you want, bear in mind some people talk out of their arses about things they know little about, so suss them out, disseminate waht you have found out, and make up your own mind /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[tico]

One that size should be fine for running around Cardigan bay etc
BUT 170hp will be seriously underpowered for what is a planing hull especially when you hit the bigger swells that are common around Pembs.
Would suggest 2x 175 hp as a minimum for this size
PM me for anything regarding Pembrokeshire

<hr width=100% size=1>Been there, done that, got the oily T shirt

 

[Alistairr]

With everyone saying a kad32 170hp will be SERIOUSLY underpowered, Why then do most off the Sealines S23, S24 and S28 have them in them?

But yes i do aggree, I am a power freak, i like to have power in reserve, I have tried a few diesel boats, and i was very dissappointed with all off them, I tried a new S23 in the clyde last month with a Kad 32, and once on the plane, it had nothing left, Ziltch, Empty, Stum Nothing!"!!!! I was very dissapointed.
I will propbably buy a diesel boat in the future, and when i do i will make sure it has plenty of power..IMHO.

Cheers



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hamptonandmcmurray.co.uk>Hampton and McMurray</A>

Petrol Rules..

 

[terryw]

The 240HP Yanmar is only a 4 cylinder. It is about the same size as a 5.0/5.7 petrol, and very slightly lighter. I have 2 of them in my 28 footer.

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[Alistairr]

That sounds better, I have heard they are good engines.
How do you find the performance of your boat? And what your fuel consuption like?



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hamptonandmcmurray.co.uk>Hampton and McMurray</A>

Petrol Rules..

 

[Happy1]

The options of engines for the Glastron GS279 are :-
Mercruiser 5.7L A1
Mercruiser 350 MAG A1
Mercruiser 350 MAG B1
Mercruiser 350 MAG B3
Mercruiser 6.2L MPI B1
Mercruiser 6.2L MPI B3
Volvo 5.7GL SX
Volvo 5.7GL DP
Volvo 5.7Gi SX
Volvo 5.7Gi DP
Volvo 5.7GXi SX
Volvo 5.7GXi DP
Volvo KAD 32P DP
Volvo AD 41P DP

The brains on the forum can make waht they want of that as to which would be the best engine. The AD 41P is £3,500 more than the KAD 32 for info, but is the extra money worth it for that extra power?

The reviews on the boat are done in the USA with the bigger petrol engines, it would be ineteresting to see a Diesel review, as 170hp does seem a bit low IMHO, it will make a big difference to the usability of the boat.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Solitaire]

Yes, I know and from what I've seen, they are great. Two friends of mine have the 240 with the Bravo 3 leg as single installations, The boats are a Wellcraft Martinique 26 and a Balt. Both go very well and the Bravo 3 leg allows for good monuverability at slow speed. I was looking to put one in Solitaire, but I'm afraid the cost (quoted around £15-£18k fitted) could not be justified given the age of the boat.

Both guys are also impressed with the fuel economy. One (the Wellcraft) has a small problem, he took delivery of his pride and joy - it was brand new - and the following day the trim tabs failed, blown fuse. The fridge did not work from day one and with only some 10 hours on the clock while in Cowes the thing stuck in gear. It was discovered that during the engine installation (done in the UK because they arrive from the US with petrol engines), the control cable had been routed around the exhaust manifolds. Yep, you guessed it, they melted. The boat is now in Mercury awaiting the problem to be fixed.

I hope you have many hours of trouble free use - I'm sure you will/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[martynwhiteley]

Had a nightmare last night.................

Dreamt I was trying to sell a six month old Glastron with pop riveted top sides, and two BMW B190 petrol engines on enfield legs.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue>MerCruiser D1.7's RULE OK!!!...</font color=blue>

 

[pistonbroke]

Depsol, what on earth are you on about. Quote "First thing I would find out on the Glastron is how the hull is bonded to the top. Is it claw pop rivets or is it bolted. You will find that the GS209 is claw pop rivets which in my mind I would never buy a boat that isnt bolted together".

Either method of joining hull to deck is perfectly acceptable, as long as the join is glassed afterwards. Infact, rivets are IMHO a better method. One person can join a hull to deck with rivets, and each rivet is tensioned to the same amount, whilst a bolt requires two people to work together. Not something that is easy to achieve in the marine trade!

I would agree that the majority of US built boats are budget priced, which is reflected in the build quality, but hey, you pays yer money and takes your choice.

I also see that you have a Jenneau, I worked on one of those the other day, an open fishing type boat, I thought they were European, but judging by the build quality they must be employing Mexicans.

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[DepSol]

fair comment however, I have chosen not to have these style pop rivets and never will have. I took the opportunity to visit the factory to see my boat being built so was happy with the strength of it. Fine not all Jeanneaus are built to the same spec but mine will certainly take more of a beating than an equivalent sized US marine import.

Your right you do pays your money and takes your chances unfortunately for me I lost out 4 months of the season cos I didnt have much choice of a certain part of the boat however the people I am talking about have lost out alot more than that.

Personally I wont have a pop riveted boat, how many people given the choice would after seeing these two boats?

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>