Looking at a new used boat.. Glacier bay 2680 pilot house.. Need some advice.

[slief]

I have been lurking here for a while.. Lots of great info!

I just sold my sand rail with upgrading my boat as the primary goal. I have a 1991 Tropy 2002 walk around with a 2007 Yamaha F-150 with 50 hours which I will likely sell.

I am strongly considering a 1999 glacier bay 2680 26 foot pilot house with dual Optimax 150's on a trailer.. One of the engines is a 99 and the other is a 2001 and the total hours for each engine is in the 500 hour range.

The other boats I have considered are similarly priced Parker 25' deep v pilot houses, Maycraft Pilot houses, and a number of other walk around type boats. The parker style boat gets me a newer boat but its not a Glacier Bay.

One of my thoughts was to take my Yamaha F-150 off the trophy and have it installed on the GB. Of course, I would have to find a second one to match. I would then install one of the Optimax engines on the trophy if it is possible. All this assuming the shaft lengths are correct. Would I be crazy for doing so? Should I be looking at other boats as well and if so, what? I was considering spending up to $50-55K.


I am in a postion to negotiate a deal but I need some advice as its going to cost me between $40,000 and $45,000 for this GB 2680. I am after a boat that can fish me and the kids (3) and then some (a buddy or 2). Get me 60 plus miles off shore without worries and do it comfortably without taking a beating from the surf. The boat will be used in So cal for the islands as well as San Diego for the summer off shore action.

I was also told that Glacier bay has not changed the hull and is still building the same boat today. While I know they still make the 2680, I am not sure what Hull refinements (if any) have been made since 99.

I am desperate for some advice as I dont want my being spontanious or impulsive to draw me into a mistake. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatfully appreciated!


Thanks in advance!!


Scott

[SIM]

Scott,

Your 20ft Trophy most likely has a 25" transom.........so does the 26ft2680 Glacier Bay.

To make it all match you will have to pull the Merc rigging off the GB and get yourself a dual engine Yamaha rig kit. Plus the counter F150 engine. Depending on where you get the counter engine from new, the rig kit and engine will run you $12,500 to $14,500 depending on the engine price. Maybe a little more. Labor not included.

The 26ft Glacier Bay hulls are unchanged from 1999 to present. The differences are interior colors and material, hull decals,windsheild frames and hard top head liner material.

The price seems fair if the Optis are sound and the boat is in good shape. Electronics on the GB are older or newer?

Andy

[UBETRUN]

I test drove a GB 2680 with twin 130s in 2005. The ride was absolutely amazing, we couldn't make it slam no matter how we crossed wakes and some of them would have launched a mono hull. Wasn't in it long enough to comment on a cat's tendency to snap/roll but there is enough info on here for you to decide whether it's a problem or not. With 130s, the boat would only top out at 31 mph, too slow for my tastes. With 150s, it should run in the mid 30s. Loved the layout, loved the ride, really wanted the boat but just couldn't get past the speed.

[jon martini]

150's are marginal power in my opinion, you'll be running her at 4800-5300 rpms alot. I prefer the 175-200 twin setup which may be hard to find on a 1999 GB.

[slief]

Thanks for the responses guys!
It includes the following electronics though I am not sure of the models.
24mi Radar & GPS Chartplotter, Furuno depth sounder, Autopilot
All of which appear to be LCD and not CRT. I tried with no luck to upload a picture but I guess I have to put it on Photobucket.

[SIM]

jon martini - 9/24/2008 10:16 AM 150's are marginal power in my opinion, you'll be running her at 4800-5300 rpms alot. I prefer the 175-200 twin setup which may be hard to find on a 1999 GB.

They might be hard to find period. The max HP rating on the 26ft hulls was 300hp unless there was a repower and the boatinsurance company does not care...........or yougot Larry G to make you up a special USCG decal.

In my opinion no one will buy a GB for speed anyways. The 26 runs well between 25-30 with F150's getting in the 2.0mpg range. Carbed engines are worse, HPDI's and I would assume OPTI's would be similar in the 2.0 range. I never ran one with Opti's.

If I recall there was a THTer that had a 19992680 for sale in that range with Mercs. Not sure if they were Opti's or EFI's or carbed.

Andy

[Door#3]

jon martini - 9/24/2008 11:16 AM

150's are marginal power in my opinion, you'll be running her at 4800-5300 rpms alot. I prefer the 175-200 twin setup which may be hard to find on a 1999 GB.

Aren't the 26ft GB's rated for 300HP max ?

[slief]

SIM - 9/24/2008 8:44 AM

They might be hard to find period. The max HP rating on the 26ft hulls was 300hp unless there was a repower and the boat*insurance company does not care...........*or you*got Larry G to make you up a special USCG decal.

In my opinion no one will buy a GB for speed anyways. The 26 runs well between 25-30 with F150's getting in the 2.0mpg range. Carbed engines are worse, HPDI's and I would assume OPTI's would be similar in the 2.0 range. I never ran one with Opti's.

If I recall there was a THTer that had a 1999*2680 for sale in that range with Mercs. Not sure if they were Opti's or EFI's or carbed.

Andy

The boat is listed here on THT.. It's called "PussyCat" which thrilled my wife to no end..

[slief]

Door#3 - 9/24/2008 8:45 AM

Aren't the 26ft GB's rated for 300HP max ?

Yes, 300 max and they say the boat wont go any faster even with bigger engines.

[BW23]

Door#3 - 9/24/2008 8:45 AM

Aren't the 26ft GB's rated for 300HP max ?

Yes,

2 x 150HP each side = 300

Another happy GB owner !

[Greg Manning]

The Maycraft and Parkers are great boats....the DV Parker would get the nod between those two for 60 miles offshore. But, I don't think either is as good as the GB if you are planning to do a lot of offshore. Your seas are likely different from ours but the cat is hard to beat for the chop common here in NC. Good luck in your choice....the Parker or Maycraft would be good choices for big bay/nearshore/moderate offshore use and the cat the best choice for primarily offshore IMO. I would not add the headache of switching out and matching engines. The Optis are good motors.

[slief]

Greg Manning - 9/24/2008 9:00 AM

The Maycraft and Parkers are great boats....the DV Parker would get the nod between those two for 60 miles offshore. But, I don't think either is as good as the GB if you are planning to do a lot of offshore. Your seas are likely different from ours but the cat is hard to beat for the chop common here in NC. Good luck in your choice....the Parker or Maycraft would be good choices for big bay/nearshore/moderate offshore use and the cat the best choice for primarily offshore IMO. I would not add the headache of switching out and matching engines. The Optis are good motors.

Greg,
Thanks for the feedback.. Any idea what the realistic milage for this boat and these engines?

[TopCat]

You are going to love that boat! I have a 99 2670 with 150 Hondas, and my cruise is at right around 2 NMPG, running anywhwere from 3900 to 4500 RPM. That gives 300 nautical mile range on the 180 gallon fuel capacity. The Optimaxes should do about the same, I'd keep them right whre they are.

[bigfish123]

I have the 2670 with 150 suzukis and my top speed at WOT is 40mph. There is also a Glacier Bay website that is a good resource (only owners can post).

http://www.glacierbayowners.com/foru...t.asp?CAT_ID=2

We love the boat.

[ariels_dad]

i have a 260 gb canyon runner CC with twin 115 yamaha 4 strokes a little lighter than the cabin model your interested in but runs 35 wot and cruises 4500 rpm at 30 2.4mpg i will never buy a different brand, you will love the ride

[BigShrimpin]

Scott - I strongly advise you to find another boat or test drive this hull in steep chop (so you know what your getting into). These boats slam like you wouldn't believe . . . the cockpit is tiny and drift fishing is almost impossible b/c of the snap roll. There are SO many other MUCH better hulls on the market.

[v70cat]

I would also look at World Cat a 27 will cruise at 30 plus and get 2.4 MPH.

[ariels_dad]

don't know about bigshrimpin's advice, i had mine for years and unless your doing 5 mph in 6 foot seas i've never felt slapping before its always the faster you go the smoother the ride, unfortunately your going to have a bunch of monohull guys giveing you crap for wanting a cat hull. all i can say is take it for a test ride if you like it buy it.

[dannyscat]

The GB is a great boat ,will not be much faster with bigger than twin 150 outboards ,since it is a full displacement hull ,not meant to be a speed boat ,but a boat that will work well with rough water conditions , far more economical than v bottom boats , keep the optis , do not waste money switching motors . Your overall fuel consumption not worth the additional expense . The GB is very well laid out ,and comfortable for its size.

[prockvoan]

If anybody has a cat they want to trade for a go fast mono,pm me.Bigshrimpin,how many cats have you rode in? slief,try different ones.The world cat is a faster boat if speed is a need.Stay away from the GW tiger cats.Not a fan of them at all!