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| Reprinted from Go Boating |
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| By Duncan McIntosh |
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The Glastron GX 205 puts more than enough power at your fingertips, and its excellent handling makes that power easy to wield. However, the 205 is more than just a powerhouse; it's also the archetype for getting every detail just right.
Whenever a boat starts with Genmar's Virtual Engineered Composites (VEC®) technology as its foundation, it already has a good leg up on comparable models. It's like being born into royalty.
The Glastron GX 205 makes good use of the VEC technology, but it also crams a lot of great features into its just-under-20-foot hull. We were impressed by the boat's high-energy attitude and its spare-nothing fit and finish.
We were satisfied with the 220 horsepower 5-liter engine on our test boat. If speed is an important factor to you, you can probably squeeze an extra 5 or 6 mph of top-end speed from the GX 205 if you further upgraded to one of the available 5.7: engines, but we were happy with the top speed of our test boat: 50.3 mph (at 4,800 rpm). We doubt that the more powerful engines would affect cruising speed as significantly, and that's the speed you'll probably be traveling most of the time, anyway. Cruising speed for us was around 30.5 mph (at 3,000 rpm).
There was a light chop when we tested the boat out of Tampa Bay, Florida, and our test boat's fuel tank was 3/8 full when we clocked our speeds. We had two adults on board; however, the boat has a maximum capacity of 10 people (or 1,475 lbs.).
The first word we thought of to describe the GX 205's ride was "spunky". The boat jumped to plane in just 4 seconds.
The GX 205 has a low bow, so we always had good visibility, even when getting on plane. Moreover, the blat offered tight, flat turns at wide-open throttle. At idle speed, it has a tendency to wander a bit at the 1,000 rpms, but it was nothing that concerned us.
The Genmar Advantage
VEC is a computer-monitored and controlled closed-mold process that produces complex fiberglass parts of defined thickness and strength. The closed molds trap styrene and other airborne emissions, enabling Genmar (Glastron's parent company) to surpass all applicable clean air standards with 90 percent less emissions than standard open-mold lamination.
More importantly, with the VEC process, the hull, stringers, flotation and sole are all molded in a single unified part. As a result, the GX 205 and other boats built with this technology have greater integral strength--and they are rattle-free.
Hidden interior surfaces are finished to the same smoothness as the exterior, so the fit and finish is beautiful throughout the boat. With VEC, the entire hull is flawless from the moment it comes out of the mold.
Digging Deep
The layout of the GX 205 is simple, yet satisfying. A U-shaped settee stowage winds its way around the bow. In addition to the regular under-seat stowage you usually find underneath most settee cushions, you'll find PFD storage nooks.
The GX 205's helm station is impressive not only for its appearance, but also for the very full set of instrumentation that accompanies it. A speedometer, a tachometer, and trim, fuel, oil pressure, voltmeter and temperature gauges are all standard, as are switches for the bilge pump, blower, horn, lights and accessories. An AM/FM/CD stereo system is also standard, and it comes with four speakers.
The port console across from the helm console (which is to starboard) has a glove box. Each of the consoles is served by a SuspensionAire adjustable bucket seat with a flip-up bolster.
A long, straight settee runs along the inside of the boat's aft section, and a large sunpad is behind the settee. The GX 205's molded-in swim platform, which has a telescopic three-step boarding ladder, is at the very back of the boat.
The GX 205 has a wake that's great for wakeboarding--and the standard ski tow ring and ski/kneeboard locker make it simple to "walk on water" whenever you like.
This (we'll say it again) spunky bowrider is a great match for boaters who have a lot of living to do.
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| Specifications |
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Details |
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Length: 19 ft.11 in. |
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Beam: 8 ft. |
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Weight (w/5.0 Volvo Penta): 3,025 lbs. |
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Fuel Capacity: 35 gals. |
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Maximum Power: 315 hp |
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Price (w/standard package):
$26,436 (w/o trailer) |
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Price (w/5.0 Gxi Volvo Penta):
$28,618 (w/o trailer) |
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| for GX 205 photos, specifications, options, etc. |
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| © 2007 Glastron Boats |
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