After an extended search, I have nailed my new boat purchase down to either a Glastron GT 180 with an E-Tec 150 OB or the GT 185 with the 4.3 Volvo Penta. I will be buying one at the boat show this Thursday. My current boat of 24 years (Sun Ray 16.5 foot with the OMC 5.0 liter) finally bit the dust. It was a fantastic boat 215 HP and you can't find them like that any more.
I use the boat primarily for water skiing and wake boarding along with some tubing. I also use the boat for fishing but not as often. I am leaning toward the OB but am trying to justify the 6K difference. I could get the 185 I/O configured as I want for around 23K but the O/B will run 29K. I am most concerned about pulling power. We like to ski double and triple on single skis and no one is real small. I like the fact the O/b boat weighs in at around 1900 with engine while the I/O will come in the high 2000 lbs.
I know very few people have the E-Tec 150s on the type of boat I am looking for. I would be extremely interested in hearing from anyone out there who has the engine on a boat around this size. None of the boat test articles have tested this boat. A dealership describes the 180 with the E-tec as a 60+ mph boat but I am skepticle of that because Evinrude's own tests on similar weighted boats come in around 50. In any event, I will be toning down the prop for pulling power.
Any input would be appreciated..... Thanks
I use the boat primarily for water skiing and wake boarding along with some tubing. I also use the boat for fishing but not as often. I am leaning toward the OB but am trying to justify the 6K difference. I could get the 185 I/O configured as I want for around 23K but the O/B will run 29K. I am most concerned about pulling power. We like to ski double and triple on single skis and no one is real small. I like the fact the O/b boat weighs in at around 1900 with engine while the I/O will come in the high 2000 lbs.
I know very few people have the E-Tec 150s on the type of boat I am looking for. I would be extremely interested in hearing from anyone out there who has the engine on a boat around this size. None of the boat test articles have tested this boat. A dealership describes the 180 with the E-tec as a 60+ mph boat but I am skepticle of that because Evinrude's own tests on similar weighted boats come in around 50. In any event, I will be toning down the prop for pulling power.
Any input would be appreciated..... Thanks
