Glastron GT 160 Collector’s Edition

Posted: February 29, 2012

Back to the Future

By: Alan Jones

Arguably, the greatest boat stunt in filmmaking history was modestly titled “Scene 156,” in the 007 movie “Live and Let Die.” In it, James Bond was driving a Glastron GT 150 during a wild, twisting chase through a Louisiana bayou that featured a ramp jump over Sheriff J.W. Pepper’s patrol car, parked on a levee. The 110-foot jump — nailed on the first take and the only jump filmed — made it into the “Guinness Book of Records.” During production, however, the stunt crew used 26 Glastrons, crashing 17 of them during the 100 practice jumps and in other stunts during the epic 13-minute chase sequence. Fast-forward 39 years, and Glastron goes back to the future with the new GT 160 Collector’s Edition that commemorates its 55 years of rich history.

Unique Factor

Glastron pays tribute to its classic early 1970s boats and channels the venerable GT 160 with legacy styling that takes the best of the old and makes it new again. It still possesses the sleek lines that led to one of the first uses of the word “sexy” to describe fiberglass and metal. The main at-a-glance difference between old and new is the absence of the wrap-around windshield that blended into the side panels. That was a great look, but the new, slightly curved two-piece non-wrap-around version opens up the cockpit better and is more functional than the original. The yellow-faced Faria gauges with hand-stitched eyebrows are especially eye-catching.

What’s still here is the attitude, as expressed by the racing stripes on the closed bow that extend to the dash and lead your eyes to the commemorative badge that will have the owner’s name on it, along with the boat’s production number. And on the Collector’s Edition, the number only goes to 55, one for each year Glastron has been thrilling us with its futuristic (or, in this case, nostalgic) designs. That’s right, only 55 lucky people can own a Collector’s Edition model, but don’t worry, if you are the 56th person, the GT 160 CB will be produced in a standard production run.

Performance

Our test boat features the max horsepower, an Evinrude E-TEC 115, which, appropriately for this boat, is the white version rather than the blue-hued one. As an aside, the GT 150 that made the legendary “Live and Let Die” jump was powered by an  Evinrude Starflite 135 — 50 horsepower more than the maximum 85 horsepower for that model, which probably voided its warranty.

The E-TEC 115 gave us a nice kick in the seat of the pants, as we got on plane in 2.3 seconds with minimal bowrise (though some skippers may trim the engine up a little to pop a wheelie … bloody showoffs). Time to 30 mph was 7 seconds flat, and at about this time it felt like the Evinrude shifted into a higher gear. The 115 features a two-way tuned exhaust system that employs a switch-over valve to reroute the exhaust. At 4500 rpm, the flow switches over to a much shorter path that uses the exhaust’s momentum and pressure waves to jam more air and fuel into the combustion chamber. This propelled us to a top speed of 45 mph, which in a 16-foot, 6-inch boat feels like 65.

Handling

Although the “Live and Let Die” Glastrons performed well, they didn’t have the SSV (Super Stable Vee) hulls pioneered in 1977, which have undergone a few minor tweaks since then. The SSV hull starts sharp at the entry and flattens out to a deadrise of 17 degrees at the stern, giving the boat excellent handling at all speeds. The GT 160 tracks very accurately and handles a moderate amount of chop well, though it’s still a small boat, which you will feel in the seat of your pants should things get rough. It corners fairly flat and is very nimble, which will come in handy should you find yourself in a bayou being chased by bad guys.

Best Uses

To me, this is sort of an “image boat” that will make you look and feel cool, but it’s also a pretty good little ski boat. Unlike the vintage ’70’s Glastron tri-pod ski bar that ate up cockpit space, the optional new version is a screw-in pylon that’s very stout. Skis can be stowed in the flip-up stern bench compartment or between the footrests under the foredeck. And given the GT 160’s excellent holeshot, all but the beefiest skiers will have no problem getting up. With twin racing bucket seats and a stern bench, you have very comfortable seating for five adults, although it’s rated for six.

Preferred Setup

You can get the GT 160 powered by as little as 75 hp, but this will knock your top speed down to 36 mph when traveling solo, according to Evinrude tests, and will reduce your watersports potential. Get the 115 and add hydraulic steering. Glastron can also rig the GT 160 with Yamaha and Mercury power.

There are four color combos to choose from, and our test boat is clad in the Red Edition (my favorite), featuring a red-and-white design that spills over into the upholstery and custom checkerboard carpeting. Another bold color combo is the Anniversary Edition, which I’m calling the “Dreamsicle” for its orange-and-white scheme. Being from Florida, I might have to pass on the Black Edition that — like the Anniversary Edition — has black panels on the bucket seats, which could double as solar panels for thigh-cooking purposes. The Sport Edition, with the black and white hull, has Sand Dance tan upholstery, which is particularly striking and is rather luxury auto-like. It’s also the only interior without black panels on the stern bench.

The Collector’s Edition ($2,181 upcharge) gives you a number of upgrades, such as custom carpeting, gray stern platform Glastron-emblazoned soft mats, the stainless steel package, a retractable ladder and a really cool color-coordinated sport wheel with a spinner hub that always keeps the Glastron badge right side up. If you aren’t getting a Collector’s Edition GT 160, you can choose an open-bow version for more seating options.

Owner Feedback

Purchased At:

• Classic styling
• Comfortable seating
• Snap-in carpeting
• Convenient boarding ladder
• Quiet Yamaha F115

Although we didn’t get it with a Bimini top originally, we are adding one.

I grew up in Long Island and learned how to boat and ski on a 16-foot Lyman. When I grew up, I bought a 15-foot Glasspar that I kept for 44 years, but it needed refurbishing and wasn’t suitable for my four grandkids, who range in age from 4 months to 4 years old. I wanted to buy a new boat, but one that had a classic look with modern features. At the New York Boat Show, I saw the Glastron GT 160 and loved it. We have a cottage that I built myself on Lake Rescue in Ludlow, Vt., where we vacation in the summer, and the Glastron is perfect for this 184-acre lake.  The new boat has far more comfortable seats, and it’s wider and has more freeboard, which is better for the grandkids. I really want them to learn how to ski like I did, rather than just being towed around on tubes like most kids on the lake. The Glastron has a tall ski pylon and an easy-to-use boarding ladder. We plan on keeping this one for 44 years.