IMHO: The first question to answer is "Do I want a fishing boat that I can ski/tube behind or do I want a ski boat that I can fish out of?
GLASTRON GS 205 SF is a skiboat that you can do a little fishing out of.
My boat is:
GLASTRON GS 205 SF
MERCRUISER 5.7L ALPHA ONE
CARB (NOT INJECTED)
677 hours on motor
ADD ONS:
19 PITCH MERC HIGH-FIVE PROP (kick-*** sking prop!) Great lift and holeshot.
TROLLING MOTOR MOUNTED ON A REMOVABLE PLATE THAT IS STOWED WHEN NOT IN USE.
BIMINI TOP (Will never own another boat without it.)
R.A.M. ROD HOLDERS AND FISHFINDER MOUNT (Again - great stuff!)
GOOD STUFF:
Excellent boat to ski behind with my setup - will easily pull 2 skiers on slaloms with 3 adults in the boat. Wake is nice and the boat will pull all day at 2600 to 3200 RPM.
My top speed with 2 adults is ~52 mph
Fair amount of storage.
I have fished for bass and striper out of this boat.
Loved it when my kids were young - spent hours pulling tubes, skiing, and fishing for bluegill.
Livewill will keep bass alive for several hours.
Boat has been well maintained - and while it shows its age - it still runs great.
KNOCKS:
Fit and finish of equivalent boats dramatically improved in the same updated model that was produced 2-4 years later. Would strongly suggest looking for a model from the early 2000s.
Would prefer to have snap-in carpet offered later.
Rear deck/engine access design is lacking
This boat (like most 20 footers) is a little small on big lakes if the water is rough.
Seats (padding an upholstery) did not last - should've redone my boat several years ago.
Wish a real swim platform had been offered.
Fishing features are compromised (not much tackle/rod storage).
FINAL ANALYSIS:
We purchased this boat as a "compromise" boat brand new in 1999. While it is not a great fishing boat - it is quite functional. I have spent many hours alone or with another guy fishing for black bass and stripers (Lake Texoma) in this boat. It is one of the finest ski runabouts on the market and with 1-2 people in the boat, it approaches the experience of skiing behind a competition boat (I have and it really does.) It has been the perfect purchase for my family. My kids have now grown (one gone and the second gone next summer) and our boating wants are now changing. I waterski only once or twice each summer now.
For the first ten years we had this boat, we would often have combinations of 6 - 8 adults and kids in the boat and could keep everyone happy for hours on end doing a little of everything - cruising, tubing, fishing, and skiing.
Great boat - does exactly what it was designed to do.
I would not purchase this boat with less than a 5.0L Fuel Injected V-8.
GLASTRON GS 205 SF is a skiboat that you can do a little fishing out of.
My boat is:
GLASTRON GS 205 SF
MERCRUISER 5.7L ALPHA ONE
CARB (NOT INJECTED)
677 hours on motor
ADD ONS:
19 PITCH MERC HIGH-FIVE PROP (kick-*** sking prop!) Great lift and holeshot.
TROLLING MOTOR MOUNTED ON A REMOVABLE PLATE THAT IS STOWED WHEN NOT IN USE.
BIMINI TOP (Will never own another boat without it.)
R.A.M. ROD HOLDERS AND FISHFINDER MOUNT (Again - great stuff!)
GOOD STUFF:
Excellent boat to ski behind with my setup - will easily pull 2 skiers on slaloms with 3 adults in the boat. Wake is nice and the boat will pull all day at 2600 to 3200 RPM.
My top speed with 2 adults is ~52 mph
Fair amount of storage.
I have fished for bass and striper out of this boat.
Loved it when my kids were young - spent hours pulling tubes, skiing, and fishing for bluegill.
Livewill will keep bass alive for several hours.
Boat has been well maintained - and while it shows its age - it still runs great.
KNOCKS:
Fit and finish of equivalent boats dramatically improved in the same updated model that was produced 2-4 years later. Would strongly suggest looking for a model from the early 2000s.
Would prefer to have snap-in carpet offered later.
Rear deck/engine access design is lacking
This boat (like most 20 footers) is a little small on big lakes if the water is rough.
Seats (padding an upholstery) did not last - should've redone my boat several years ago.
Wish a real swim platform had been offered.
Fishing features are compromised (not much tackle/rod storage).
FINAL ANALYSIS:
We purchased this boat as a "compromise" boat brand new in 1999. While it is not a great fishing boat - it is quite functional. I have spent many hours alone or with another guy fishing for black bass and stripers (Lake Texoma) in this boat. It is one of the finest ski runabouts on the market and with 1-2 people in the boat, it approaches the experience of skiing behind a competition boat (I have and it really does.) It has been the perfect purchase for my family. My kids have now grown (one gone and the second gone next summer) and our boating wants are now changing. I waterski only once or twice each summer now.
For the first ten years we had this boat, we would often have combinations of 6 - 8 adults and kids in the boat and could keep everyone happy for hours on end doing a little of everything - cruising, tubing, fishing, and skiing.
Great boat - does exactly what it was designed to do.
I would not purchase this boat with less than a 5.0L Fuel Injected V-8.