I think i'm in love !

[oregonboatnewb]

I was googling, and i found my dream boat (untill i get a large truck)

ITS PERFECT ! Thats exactly what i want in a boat, space up front for people, little room to move around, and not so large that it might require a f350 to tow !


Question, anyone know other models of boats that were built like this ? Such useability !

Also, any idea what a boat like that would weigh ? If alot, have there been any alum boats over the years that resemble its design ?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: I think i'm in love !

it is called a bow rider, yes there are aluminum boats similar. almost every boat company builds atleast one.

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: I think i'm in love !

Know which ones withstood the depths of time the best ? Or which model and brand would be the lightest?

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: I think i'm in love !

That is a pretty typical Tri-Hull of the 70s and early 80s. Just about every manufacturer made them. I would estimate the hull would weigh somewhere between 750-1000 lbs. Once you add an engine, gear and fuel it could be up to 1500 lbs. That one in particular is a Glastron.

 

[BigJ08]

Re: I think i'm in love !

Unsure about model/brand that is specifically, but tri-hull bowriders were made for eons it seems. They were made by a multitude of manufacturers. Weight is hard to say, but most of these tri-hulls were 15-16 footers. The one in your pic looks to be about 16 ft. You should be able to tow that with a small pickup no problem. I have never seen an aluminum tri-hull but that doesn't mean they weren't made.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: I think i'm in love !

Glastrons were a nice boat. They were light for their size and that made them a little faster. Only thing to be careful about was they were known to rot the floors. The Glastron in that photo is early to late 1970s. During those years you got a lot for your money because the hulls were always 9 inches longer than the numbers ie. V156 was 15 feet 9 inches long. In my opinion, the Glastron Aqua-lift II hulls (the tri hulls) were a bit more rough riding than others. If you want a boat that will take all you can give it and is a bit smoother, try for a Chrysler tri-hull of the same period.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: I think i'm in love !

i think before you buy another boat, you need to do some self education. like look thru all of these. http://www.fiberglassics.com/library.htm

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: I think i'm in love !

And don't be a hasty buyer. That Glastron looks nice, but it's been out in the weather apparently...so I bet you would need to replace deck, flotation foam, and maybe the transom. The old-style bowrider trihulls are everywhere, and it's not that hard to find one that has been garaged and kept out of the weather/elements. As TD says, do some boat backgrounding then start a methodical patient search for one that has all the cookies you want/need.

 

[woosterken]

Re: I think i'm in love !

WOW, a place for me to jump in!

1974 MFG 120hp merc I/O
like others have said check the floor (deck REAL CLOSE)
and the transom.
as weight my brochure says mine is 1950 lbs,but with fuel,batteries,and gear probably around 3000 lbs
I pull Her with a F150 4X4 (4.9l 6cyc.)

woosterken

 

[tbear1964]

Re: I think i'm in love !

Make sure you know what you want to use it for. Trihulls are very stable, but don't take choppy water very well. That's why their design died in favor of the deep vee hull found on most bowriders.

Ditto all the comments on condition. Old boats usually mean more problems. There are plenty out there. Watch your local craigslist.

Weight-wise it should be less than 2000 lbs. Even a fullsize car or minivan would pull that, properly equipped, of course.

 

[JasonB]

Re: I think i'm in love !

That looks like a Glastron V or T-156 (depends on the year). My guess is about a '76 model T-156 based on the color. You can get some specs at http://www.classicglastron.com/76gl-t152-156.html . Very popular hull. I have the slightly larger T-166 with an 85hp Johnson V4. Great little boats if powered with 65hp or so. See lots of them with 65, 70, 80 and 85hp mercs and OMC's. That hull is rated for 85hp max. I think a 70hp Johnson?Evinrude 3cyl is a near perfect motor for that hull. Easy on gas, and easy to tow. I have pulled mine for years with a manual shift Ford Ranger that only has a 2000lb tow rating. Handles it fine. These are great river/small lake boats. They can be a bit rough riding on lager bodies or choppy waters. We used ours as a family bowrider for years on a larger local lake, then upgraded to a 19' V-hull. I still have the 166 and have set it up for fishing. Makes an excellent bass rig. Glastron made these from 14' to 20' feet. There were a number of other companies making similar hulls as well, but I have an affinity to the Glastrons. The old tri-hulls are really stable and handle good sized loads ok. If you go look at one, be sure to check the transom and floors.

BTW, that hull is listed at 700lbs, add 250 for a 70hp JohnRude, add a few hundred for a trailer, and you are at about 1600lbs.

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: I think i'm in love !

tmcalavy, Wasn't looking to purchase that "one" its 4000 miles away, i was just looking at random photo's and loved the use of a boat like that...

Overall I wanna be able to do the local rivers... Willamette / Columbia , and some local lakes, Detroit, Hag lake, timothy lake, oregon has sooo much to offer in the ways of water, can't wait to get on it this summer !

woosterken, Amazing looking boat ! But i wanna stick with outboard.

Thanks everyone for your posts, haven't had anything local here that looks worth looking into... there is on in seattle, but hes asking 1700 for a 15 ft 1969 Glastron Tri-Hull w/ 55 hp SeaKing Moto.

 

[rebars1]

Re: I think i'm in love !

You might want to look around to see what type of boats are popular in your area. The rivers might need a different hull than the lakes.

Like the other have said...take your time- there are a gazillion used boats for sale!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: I think i'm in love !

Just my $.02 .... (and that's probably what it's worth)

Run,,, Run as fast and far away from a tri-hull as you can

I had a 73 SeaSwirl tri-hull for almost 10 years and would never own a tri-hull again. Yes it was stable and had lots of usable room, but it was rough in anything over a 2' chop,,, which I would run into frequently. Take a 3-4'er the wrong way and the hull would shudder so bad you would think it was coming apart...

V-hull bow-rider, now you're talking usable room and good hull design.

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: I think i'm in love !

I was just going to ask, if they made V-Hull Bow Riders ! Anyone know the names/models that they made 70's/80s of a V-hull bow rider ? Has anything aluminum been made to have such spacious spaces ?

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: I think i'm in love !

They weren't derisively called "waveslappers" for nothing! But yes, there were V hull boats made in the bow rider versions--I can not come up with any examples, but they are out there. Newer than '70s though.

 

[rcmickey]

Re: I think i'm in love !

Nice!! I know how you feel. I picked up my Sport-Craft 1500 Sprint for $1700 with a 90 Yammy and nice trailor. Here in Florida we use it year round. I pull mine with a 97 Caravan but When I first got it a year ago, I pulled it with a 94Mazda Protoge. No problems.........

 

[oops!]

Re: I think i'm in love !

oregon.......jason b got it.....thats a glastron t 156.....max rated at 85 hp.......you are ocean located so there might not be as many of those boats in your area as there will be in the tri cities or spokane....(the smaller tri hulls are fresh water lake boats.....that does not mean that they cannot be used in the ocean....but.....!

johnny (jcserca) just did a resto of that exact boat on the resto forum....see pics of work so far.....jcserca)

the newer bow riders are v hulls.....but dont expect to get a 04 or 03 with out paying....they were re-invented as wakeboard boats.

oregon......bayliner did a bowrider in the late 80's early 90's called a capri.
if you keep up on the resto forum.....you will learn what to look for in a boat as far as structural issues.
you might luck out and get a garage kept capri for around 2k.......but before you buy.....post here.....so we can keep you from getting waterlogged !

cheers
oops

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: I think i'm in love !

I think this is what your talking about

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/boa/981335356.html

I'm trying to stay away from the newer look (and price) if i can... Lower unit comes in this weekend for the glasspar i got now, so i'll be able to take it out on the water soon, see how much space it doesn't have... My "Boat budget" is "1500" or so (trying to trade atv's at the moment since i get them for less then what they sell value is), cause i wanna also get an 90's F150 (2500 ish) so i don't have to put too much stress on my bimmer, i wish i would have rented a truck and got that 17ft 115hp that went for 900, but shes gone, and i got all winter to find another.

Also I've found a guy local that sells Van bench's from older rapest vans, which are awesome, and cheap ! Just gonna mount one to a ply board and see how it works out (total cost under 30 bucks !)

(Not this big, hes got some 2 seaters that only weigh 40lbs and have arm rests ~!!!~)
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/pts/978832004.html

Thanks again for keeping up with my posts oops and all, this day and age, simply amazing how many forums are out there, from my subaru' having a small issue to people helping work on it for beer, and now boat guys spotting issues from pictures, loving it !

Alex

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: I think i'm in love !

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/boa/980634551.html

Brand new "Stator" and just had "control box" That controlled the 1/3/5 cylender...

Guy's had boat since this past summer, said one of the floor boards neer back bench is semi soft, had it checked out, they said floor could be replaced, but the supports underneath were solid.

Asked him the weight, he didn't have any idea, i'm thinking i need to get a ranger or f150, to solve my weight worry issue.