Rough riding Glastron.

[hydro556]

i recently acquired an 82 Glastron SV-191 deck boat. So far I am very pleased with its performance but a little less satisfied with the way it rides. I believe Glastron calls the hull an "Aqua-lift", at least I think I read that.

I have only owned fishing boats with V-hulls, so maybe this rough ride is to be expected. The problem is the way it handles any "rough" water. If you take any wake or chop(I am talking about fresh water rivers or lakes, nothing rough like you salt water guys deal with) the bow of the boat just crashes down, jarring any passengers sitting in the bow seats. I only have a few hours in the boat, so I am hoping that I can figure out a way to minimize this condition. Are there any tips or tricks as to how I can trim the boat or even approach the waves to make this boat a little more pleasant? It is bad enough that if I see any rough water coming, I slow immediately to almost a stop if I have riders in the bow.

 

[dorchard]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

Hi Hydro,

Certainly the more of your bow that comes out of the water over a wave, the more jarring it is going to be coming down...with this hull design, I would imagine that you need to pay more attention to crossing at 45degree angles to waves. Modulating your throttle so you don't "leap" out of the water is also important...i tend to throttle down a bit right before i cross, and throttle back up right after...so you aren't thrusting yourself up the wave (if you can call it this on inland lakes). As far as the trim, if you are running too bow-high, you could be aiming yourself up the wave as you cross it...try trimming your bow down a bit for a smoother crossing.

When you say "V-Hull" on your fishing boat, are you talking about a displacement hull or a planing hull? If they were displacement hulls, you certainly do have a whole different game to play with a planing hull.

--Dan

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

What does the speedometer read when the symptom occurs?....​

 

[hydro556]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

What does the speedometer read when the symptom occurs?....​

LOL, nothing wrong with a little friendly sarcasm, right?

 

[hydro556]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

Hi Hydro,

Certainly the more of your bow that comes out of the water over a wave, the more jarring it is going to be coming down...with this hull design, I would imagine that you need to pay more attention to crossing at 45degree angles to waves. Modulating your throttle so you don't "leap" out of the water is also important...i tend to throttle down a bit right before i cross, and throttle back up right after...so you aren't thrusting yourself up the wave (if you can call it this on inland lakes). As far as the trim, if you are running too bow-high, you could be aiming yourself up the wave as you cross it...try trimming your bow down a bit for a smoother crossing.

When you say "V-Hull" on your fishing boat, are you talking about a displacement hull or a planing hull? If they were displacement hulls, you certainly do have a whole different game to play with a planing hull.

--Dan

Dorchard, I am not really sure of the correct terminology, but my previous boats all had a V shape, that was consistent in angle from the top to the keel. That, to me, is a V hull. I'm sure there are variations, but I dont know the lingo well enough to differentiate, sorry.

The Glastron I have now is more W shaped, with substantial areas that are near perpendicular to the water. I guess this is supposed to plane out more easily, and it does plane pretty easily, but sacrifices ride quality at the same time.

 

[88wellcraft]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

We used a tri-hull when I was a kid. very stable...but also a very rough ride in any kind of chop.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

Yeah, unfortunately, the flatter a boat's bottom...the flatter yours is gonna be in a good chop.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

Aqua-lift and Aqua-lift 2 were Glastron's trade name for a modified tri-hull. Unfortunately, all tri-hulls ride rough. Around here they are "affectionately" known as "Wave Slappers." Unfortunately, that's the nature of the beast.

If you want to see some good chase scenes with Glastrons watch "Live and Let Die"--James Bond. When young, I owned the 14 foot model that went into the swimming pool. It was the Aqua Lift hull. A real gem. Built in aluminum grab handles and rolled and tucked upholstery centered on the deck. Teleflex rack and pinion steering. Beautiful lines and decent performance--30 MPH with a 55. Rough riding though. I hit a wave so hard, that my foot went through the footrest and the windshield cracked.I still own a 14, 15, and 16. They are all deep vees though.

 

[hydro556]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

Thanks for the info. Pros and cons considered, is the Aqua lift considered something to shy away from or do the pros outweigh the cons? I like the boats performance but the wave slapping sucks.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

The older you get, your "You know what" gets shorter and your boats get longer. The older you get, the less you will like the ride. I wouldn't own a tri hull--period! But I do a lot of cruising --8 hours on the water--where comfort is desirable. For fishing, partying, or even skiing, they are stable and that's desirable. So: its up to you to decide.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

I had an old cathedral hull Glastron myself, I got rid of it because it rode so rough. I'm in salt water here and that thing was no fun in any kind of chop!

Trim tabs will help to a degree.​

 

[hydro556]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

I keep hearing about trim tabs, I am going to have to check into getting some.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

What tabs would do for that boat is keep the bow down and the stern up more; this would help the slamming some.​

 

[hydro556]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

where is the best source to get them for my boat? how difficult is the install?

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

Go to the Marine Store here on iboats and look at Smart Tabs SX.

Keeping the bow from poping up will keep it from slamming down (logical) . Smart Tabs will do that for you.

 

[bds85466]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

I know that Glastron made an Aqualift and an Aqualift II. I have a 1972 GT160 with an Aqualift hull. It's only a 16 foot boat and I expected it to get thrown around by even the smallest of waves. After about 25 hours on the boat, I've found that this boat handles waves better than most boats I've been on (given you obey the rules for wave riding). I've found that the faster I hit them the better and less "slapping" I get. The low profile of the boat seems to just cut through like butta.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

I had a Glastron V145 14' 6" Fish 'n' Ski. It was a great fishing platform, but you did have to treat waves a little differently that you would in a V-hull design. I learned that the first time I went out in it and was running down the lake on plane. There was an old wake that I had to cross...not very big at all, so I just ignored it and hit it at about 25 mph. Rattled my teeth, it did.

After that, I drove the boat for what it was, and didn't skip over waves any more. When it got roughish, I just slowed down and avoided the jarring.

I did like that boat, but it wasn't what I wanted, so I sold it and got the little aluminum boat I should have bought in the first place. It was a PITA to launch and retrieve solo for this old man.

 

[hydro556]

Re: Rough riding Glastron.

Go to the Marine Store here on iboats and look at Smart Tabs SX.

Keeping the bow from poping up will keep it from slamming down (logical) . Smart Tabs will do that for you.

Smart tabs SX. That is the correct version for my 82 Merc?