New GT 185

[jt185]

Re: New GT 185

Nothing fancy. I have an older Garmin c330 that I downloaded the inland lakes map for. I recommend a newer unit. I hope I can use this map on a newer Garmin if I ever buy one. The DL was fairly pricey even on sale.

 

[jkust]

Re: New GT 185

Was able to open the throttle briefly today as per break in schedule. 50 MPH on the GPS. Just myself in the boat w/ a full tank of gas. About 4800 RPM at WOT. The boat speedo is close, but reads high especially above 30 MPH. BTW it cruises sweetly and fairly quietly at 30 MPH.

50mph sounds decent. What is the pitch of your prop? I am a top speed guy even though my boat isn't fast and you rarely go WOT long anyway. For comparison since I love speed conversations, my 18 footer with the 4.3 gets 46mph at 4800rpm on GPS loaded with 2 adults, 2 kids with a full tank. Our prop is a 21pitch, well worn, aluminum. Those 4.3's have a ton of torque. I use a Garmin Nuvi but it won't accept lake maps to my knowledge but wished it did.

 

[jt185]

Re: New GT 185

50mph sounds decent. What is the pitch of your prop? I am a top speed guy even though my boat isn't fast and you rarely go WOT long anyway. For comparison since I love speed conversations, my 18 footer with the 4.3 gets 46mph at 4800rpm on GPS loaded with 2 adults, 2 kids with a full tank. Our prop is a 21pitch, well worn, aluminum. Those 4.3's have a ton of torque. I use a Garmin Nuvi but it won't accept lake maps to my knowledge but wished it did.

I'm pretty sure it's a 21pitch prop. With a full tank of gas, two skinny teenagers and me in the boat, it clocked 48.2 mph downwind. Very comparable to yours. I don't plan on running WOT much, but I like to know how fast things go too. Not a great plan when I'm riding either, but I know how fast my motorcycle goes. I won't post that speed in case my wife reads this Regarding the GPS, My unit isn't even listed on their site anymore, but the inland lakes map works.

Another photo.

 

[jkust]

Re: New GT 185

I'm pretty sure it's a 21pitch prop. With a full tank of gas, two skinny teenagers and me in the boat, it clocked 48.2 mph downwind. Very comparable to yours. I don't plan on running WOT much, but I like to know how fast things go too. Not a great plan when I'm riding either, but I know how fast my motorcycle goes. I won't post that speed in case my wife reads this Regarding the GPS, My unit isn't even listed on their site anymore, but the inland lakes map works.

Another photo.

I have maybe an extra 300-400 lbs of hull weight and an extra 10 gallons of gas tank since my Chaparral is a hog for 18 feet , three inches. The best I have evern gotten was the one time I let it run low on gas (probably 10 gallons left) since we were staying on the lake and had my then 8 year old on for the ride. We hit 51.8mph on gps but would overrev pretty easy. That was cross wind. My wife hates when we go fast for longer than a few seconds anyway so anything above say 35mph is for me and my boys.
Does your boat fit in your garage?

 

[jt185]

Re: New GT 185

I have maybe an extra 300-400 lbs of hull weight and an extra 10 gallons of gas tank since my Chaparral is a hog for 18 feet , three inches. The best I have evern gotten was the one time I let it run low on gas (probably 10 gallons left) since we were staying on the lake and had my then 8 year old on for the ride. We hit 51.8mph on gps but would overrev pretty easy. That was cross wind. My wife hates when we go fast for longer than a few seconds anyway so anything above say 35mph is for me and my boys.
Does your boat fit in your garage?

It fits. It was in the garage Saturday night as the forecast was for freezing temps. However, I need to clean out a bunch of junk from my garage so I can use both stalls. The trailer has a folding tongue which makes the overall length about 20'. I was considering putting a 4 blade prop on to gain hole-shot. I'm new to this and don't know if I would gain much doing so. Any thoughts on a 4 blade prop?

 

[jkust]

Re: New GT 185

I'd bet you'd see a nice improvement on hole shot at the expense of top end. I am guessing you mean hole shot when loaded and towing. My hole shot is great with the 4 of us but add two more adults and forget about it. Frankly if it were me, I'd first move down in pitch and go with a stainless three blade before I went 4 blades. Of course my kids are still little and we only tube so far. There are downsides with SS as well though. Potentially better prop performance but potentially more disastorous if you hit bottom and the shaft takes the brunt instead of the alum prop simply getting destroyed. Again though there are different opinions there as well as the hub plays a role as well. There are endless posts on this topic and you will pick up nice bits of info in each. Frankly my 'dream' is a 4 bbl carb and ss prop to really add a bit of extra umph. I'm not handy and a 4bbl set up plus labor isn't worth it but i'd bet an ss prop would be.

 

[jt185]

Re: New GT 185

I'd bet you'd see a nice improvement on hole shot at the expense of top end. I am guessing you mean hole shot when loaded and towing. My hole shot is great with the 4 of us but add two more adults and forget about it. Frankly if it were me, I'd first move down in pitch and go with a stainless three blade before I went 4 blades. Of course my kids are still little and we only tube so far. There are downsides with SS as well though. Potentially better prop performance but potentially more disastorous if you hit bottom and the shaft takes the brunt instead of the alum prop simply getting destroyed. Again though there are different opinions there as well as the hub plays a role as well. There are endless posts on this topic and you will pick up nice bits of info in each. Frankly my 'dream' is a 4 bbl carb and ss prop to really add a bit of extra umph. I'm not handy and a 4bbl set up plus labor isn't worth it but i'd bet an ss prop would be.

Thanks for the input. I haven't had the opportunity to tow a skier or wake board yet. Too cold! I hope I can keep using the stock prop. My son wants a wake board tower. I'll have to save up for a while. Maybe next summer. Meanwhile, I'll keep reading and asking questions.

 

[GXL205 Deke]

Re: New GT 185

My hole shot is great with my SS 3 Blade even with my big ole butt in the boat. 240 LBs worth. My top end is around a low 50's something dont have the GPS, and haven't really worked hard with the trim. Granted I have the 5.0 GXi but my boat is also a little bigger.

 

[jt185]

Re: New GT 185

This is top end with myself 235 lb. in the boat and a full tank. Stock prop. Could not trim another tenth out of it.

I pulled my son and his friend wakeboarding (with wet suits) last week. It seems to pull them out of the hole adequately. It may lag a little with a bunch of people on board though. We'll see when it gets a little warmer.

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: New GT 185

Has your dealer produced the missing/ damaged parts for your boat yet? I just have a funny feeling I am going to have to do the same thing with my dealer next week with my boat. Well, more so the missing stainless exhaust covers.

 

[jt185]

Re: New GT 185

Has your dealer produced the missing/ damaged parts for your boat yet? I just have a funny feeling I am going to have to do the same thing with my dealer next week with my boat. Well, more so the missing stainless exhaust covers.

According to my dealer, Glastron was having problems with the stainless steel (which are actually plastic?) vent covers peeling and flaking so they stopped using them. Not sure about this. I would clarify this with your dealer. Let me know what they say. I may write a letter to Glastron and complain, but it's really isn't a deal-breaker for me.
The new speedo is waiting to be installed, the dash and falling off decals are still on order.

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: New GT 185

According to my dealer, Glastron was having problems with the stainless steel (which are actually plastic?) vent covers peeling and flaking so they stopped using them. Not sure about this. I would clarify this with your dealer. Let me know what they say. I may write a letter to Glastron and complain, but it's really isn't a deal-breaker for me.
The new speedo is waiting to be installed, the dash and falling off decals are still on order.

Yea that seems very odd, and if it comes down to mine not having them as well I am going to ask to be compensated because I got the XL package, and those are even still listed to this day on Glastron's webpage. If something is promised in writing and then not given, that's like stealing. Granted its not a deal breaker for myself either but I did just spend $30,000 on my boat. My dealer has been very upfront with me about everything and helpful. But I will most definitely let you know what they say if that is the case. My mother is a paralegal and will have her throw something together to send off to Glastron if I get the same BS excuse.

Worse come to worse, I have a bunch of Rustoleum professional grade SS spray paint I can make them look the way they are suppose to.