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| Reprinted from Trailer Boats magazine |
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| By Ron Eldridge |
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They say you can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy. With just a slight spin, this applies to Glastron. A big builder based in a small Minnesota town nestled near the headwaters of the Mississippi River, Glastron is trying to shake up its All-American image with a new cruiser that sports decidedly European lines. What the company hasn’t changed is its penchant for delivering solid performance at budget prices.
With the GS 269, Glastron marries Continental chic with down-home American value--and the upshot for boaters is a 26-foot cruiser that, nicely equipped, is priced in the mid $50s. That’s a marriage everyone hopes will last.
And why not? Glastron’s latest offers a good turn of speeds, enough topside amenities to keep the party rocking and cabin accoutrements that will sleep a bridal party of four. That’s worth a champagne toast, for sure.
Step Up to the Top
The boat we tested near Hoover Dam on Arizona’s Lake Mead was rigged with the optional Volvo Penta 5.7 GXi DuoProp mated to a stainless F4 propset. We liked the combination’s power and smoothness. This engine develops 320 hp--the boat’s maximum rating--and the twin, counter-rotating props allow the GS 269 to hook up quickly during holeshots, keep the hull glued down in hard turns and generate bow lift at speed. Twin-prop drives also and slow-speed maneuvering and backing, which is handy around docks and launch ramps, especially when the wind is gusting--as it was when we can in from our test session.
The least expensive power options are a 250 hp 5.7L MerCruiser or 270 hp Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi--both with single-prop drives. Judging from our test, however, we recommend stepping up to one of the more powerful engines and either Volvo’s DuoProp or Merc’s Bravo 3 drive. Here’s why: We tested in generally calm water aboard a rig carrying two men, test gear and three-quarters of a tank of fuel--in other words, it was pulling light duty compared to a cruiser’s typical burden of passengers and gear. In addition, we weren’t blasting around in steep chop that would challenge a marginally powered hull to get out of the hole or maintain a comfortable planning speed. Now, imagine you’re slugging through rotten conditions in a fully loaded boat--wouldn’t you want to be able to grab more throttle when you needed it? You’re better off buying that extra power and the additional load-carrying capability of the twin-prop drive on the front end--instead of later bemoaning the fact that you hadn’t.
That said, our boat was rigged just right. The lightly loaded Glastron clocked 9.7 seconds from 0 to 30 mph, and topped out at 44.7 mph at 4800 rpm. Now, that might not sound like much compared to a runabout, but it earns a cruiser bragging rights.
View from the Keel
Two strakes on each side of the keel extend all the way to the bow, and work in concert with the boat’s broad chines and 8-1/2 foot beam to provide lift. The GS 269’s standard Bennett trim tabs assist it when coming out of the hole, and also allow you to fine-tune the boat’s attitude. For example, they were very welcome when the wind came up in the afternoon; by dropping one tab, we were able to correct for listing as the big cruiser’s considerable windage caused it to heel over in the gusty desert breeze.
The hull’s speed efficiency also translates to fuel savings, as witnessed by its 2.9 mpg economy at an optimum cruise of 24.3 mph at 3000 rpm. That’s excellent, and promises a range of 187 miles from the boat’s 72-gallon fuel tank. Although it’s on the lower end of the scale for cruisers of this size, the GS 269’s capacity is comparable to most competitive models--which points to one thing: In general, this class needs to carry more fuel. This kind of tankage is not enough to do these boats justice, and limits the room to roam that an otherwise capable cruiser like the GS 269 should, by its very definition, enjoy.
True to what we’ve come to expect from Glastron hulls, the new model handles with agility and confidence. It carves through turns in a sure-footed way--although excessively sharp cornering will result in a noticeable list as the tall-sided cruiser leans over and comes about. The boat does just fine; it’s the crew you have to worry about. It is at this point that you’ll discover there aren’t enough grab handles.
With the upgraded engine, the GS 269 offers a lively feel for a cruiser. We only regret water conditions didn’t provide much indication of how she takes a sea. Small wind waves and nasty ol’ boat wakes were the best we could do, and the 26-foot hull spanned these with indifference, as it well should have. We’ll reserve judgment for another day.
Shaded by a standard Sunbrella Bimini, the helm seat is a doublewide affair. The flip-up bolster allows operators to stand while driving, and the GS 269’s tilt wheel also accommodates various driving positions. The bolster is fairly narrow, however, which compromises comfort when employed as the kind of "midlevel" seat drivers sometimes use. And we were surprised to see only one drink holder at the two-person helm.
One thing we didn’t care for was the helm’s "sunken" footwell. Moving from the cockpit forward, you step up one level as you approach the helm, then down again as you slide into the seat. By raising a portion of the deck, Glastron was able to create more headroom at the entrance to the midcabin berth. By the same token, "lowering" the helm deck also increased both legroom and wind protection offered by the walkthrough at its highest point. The use of ladder-style steps for the cabin enhances the feeling of room in the midberth, and a curtain, rather than a bulkhead, assures privacy. The open arrangement "enlarges" the main cabin, as well. At the cabin entrance, the companionway hatch slides completely out of the way so you’ll never bang your head.
Our boat’s options included dockside air conditioner with reverse heat ($3,065) and a full canvas package ($1,100). Also offered are a flat-screen TV, radar arch and 5 kW generator that will really open up your cruising options. However, in keeping with the boat’s value mission, the AM/FM/CD stereo is standard with Sirius satellite radio.
All told, this rig offers a lot for the money. Like all boats, there are some areas that could be improved; and, like all reviews, we’ve voiced opinions on how things could be done differently to make it even better. Then again, you might like the GS 269 exactly as it is. Either way, one thing we can all agree on is that this new cruiser hits plenty of high notes. Glastron has managed to combine fresh Continental styling with a boat-load of cool features, and has brought the whole marriage together for surprisingly little dough.
European chic at budget American prices: No matter which side of the pond you hail from, that’s a match made in heaven.
TEST RESULTS |
| Engine |
SPEED |
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Fuel |
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Range1 |
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| (rpm) |
(mph) |
(gph) |
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(mpg) |
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(miles) |
| 1000 |
6.1 |
1.7 |
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3.6 |
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233 |
| 1500 |
8.2 |
3.2 |
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2.6 |
|
168 |
| 2000 |
9.8 |
5.4 |
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1.8 |
|
116 |
| 2500 |
17.8 |
7.2 |
|
2.5 |
|
162 |
| 30002 |
24.3 |
8.4 |
|
2.9 |
|
187 |
| 3500 |
31.4 |
11.3 |
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2.8 |
|
181 |
| 4000 |
36.4 |
15.7 |
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2.3 |
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149 |
| 4500 |
41.4 |
19.7 |
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2.1 |
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136 |
| 4800(WOT) |
44.7 |
22.5 |
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2.0 |
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129 |
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| 1–Based on 90% fuel capacity 2–Optimum cruising speed |
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| for GS 269 photos, specifications, options, etc. |
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| © 2007 Glastron Boats |
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