Glacier Bay or World Cat with West Coast sea conditions

[Jason Phillips]

I’m in the market for a new boat for the ’07 season. I believe I will be getting a Glacier Bay 2670. I like the layout a lot. It’s as big as can get for a trailered boat (slips are up to $20/ft here, my monthly slip payments on my last two boats were almost the same as the boat payments). I’m also looking at the World Cat

I’ve heard a lot about GBs handling characteristics, but mostly in reference to East Coast conditions. It seems that the snap role is an issue at drift, but for it to be really bad you would have to have very short period waves (one hull on the crest one hull in the trough), so I’m not too worried about that. I can always use a sea anchor to switch from beam drift to head drift if it gets too bad.

How does a Glacier Bay / World Cat handle in a large swell with a long period? Especially in following or following-quartering seas?

I will sea trial one before buying (of course), but I like to narrow down the field before I waste a dealer’s time.

Thanks in advance for your responses

-Jason

[Onewolf]

How fast do you want to be able to cruise at when conditions permit? A World Cat with 225s will be able to cruise much faster than a Glacier Bay with 150s. If the cruising speed aspect is not relevant than it would come down to a preference on cockpit layout and dealer support.

I don't think either cat is going to have any issues with long period swells.

Doug

[taJon]

20 a foot. try 125 - 200 a foot here!!!!!

[Jason Phillips]

Speed really isn't an issue. Typical cruise is 25-30kts.

We don’t usually have the luxury to pound through 2-3ft chop at 50+ mph. We usually have a 4-8ft ground swell at a long period even on glass days. Going high speeds usually looks like a motocross, nice smooth launches with a lot of air time, the only difference is that the landings aren’t as smooth ;-)

[Jason Phillips]

WOW! $200 per foot per month.That is amazing, where are you? A 30' boat would cost $6000 per month to slip. Maybe we have a conflict in units I'm talking per month maybe you are taling per year? Not really the issue though.

[Onewolf]

Speed really isn't an issue. Typical cruise is 25-30kts.

A Glacier Bay is going to have a max (economical) cruising speed around 25-26kts whereas the World Cat can cruise relatively efficiently at 32-34kts so if a 25-26kt cruise is ok than it shouldn't be a big factor. Down here in Florida it's nice to be able to cruise at 35-38kts when it's flat offshore (like it is fairly often during the summer).

Doug

[SIRBOATSALOT]

I sell G/B and have been on them in most any seas you can point at.I own but don't sell WC. Cockpit sets up nicer for fishing on the GB for me. WC 270 has a very long distance from the back of the cockpit to the back of the engines. That's a long way to leader a big fish over the top of your fishbox.
Ride is incredible on both boats. The GB I like up hill and WC downhill.
Side sea WC wins a close race. Flat water WC with 225's (gotta love the speed). GB is maxed at 150's running in the 37-40mph range.
Fit and finish have to go to GB.

If you are going to buy with twin 150's get the GB. The WC shines best with the larger motors.
Last note: GB does very little when trimming motors. On the WC trimming is a must. The control you have over the bow is damn nice on the WC.

[Jason Phillips]

I think if I was going for a center console I would pick the WC for sure. Now that I have the wife and kid along for the ride, I need shelter, toilet, and a smooth ride (I’m willing to give up some speed). I don't like the WC's cabin setup as much as the GB's

[kerno]

About those West Coast sea conditions...... The president of Glacier Bay personally delivered about from Hawaii to Midway. 1500 miles of oceanI would not try. That feat alone has to be the greatest testimony to the boat. Please note: This comment is being brought to you by a monohull owner.

[whippa4]

unless you are going to sleep on the boat , take a look at the 2640 ..most versatile boat
out there !! also you don't have as much fwd weight distribution...

[whippa4]

unless you are going to sleep on the boat , take a look at the 2640 ..most versatile boat
out there !! also you don't have as much fwd weight distribution...

[Bullshipper]

Where in California. Ventura and north of that will have worse seas than San Diego, and Northern California will be the worse.

If you come home is a following sea, I would favort a WC as the bow is lighter and less likely to stuff. If I had to travel into a head sea routinely in the afternoon, then the nod would go to the GB, but all of this depends on length as the WC33 will do it all.

I like the GB2640 but as you say you want to overnight so I would probably go to the WC27SC as a compromise.

[bc22]

J P, i think i'm in the same boat as you! Possibly this fall/winter or likely spring i'm looking to move up to a GB 2680 or WC 270EC or WC 270SC.
I'm not in cali, but intending the boat to be used on the west coast of BC, canada, but it looks like we share similar boating conditions with the chop and long swell. I like the WC speed, but am wondering how effectively utilized it would be for the swells. One fellow said just fly and the landing will be soft, i'm not convinced it would be that soft and what about potentially stuffing the bow? Let us know how you do with the sea trials, i'd be very interested how the 2 boats fit for the west coast waters.

[dave horne]

There is a guy named Russ (user name RT4YT) on the World Cat board who owns a 27' World Cat in Manhatten Beach, CA. He's pretty knowledgeable and he may have tested out GB's as well. Anyone can join the WC board and search/post, or PM.

Dave

[Jason Phillips]

Bullshipper,

Most of my use will be from Point Conception down to Ensenada. I will almost always be coming home with a following sea.

BC22,

What I’ve heard about “launching off” is that the landing will be a bit smoother on landing in the GB over the WC (because the WC’s planning surfaces will smack harder than the GB’s displacement hulls), but speed is certainly a factor.

Your neck of the woods is the largest swell I’ve ever rode over in a boat. I was going halibut fishing just outside the Straits of Juan De Fuca. When we were going out the straits the tide empting out the Puget Sound. The swell must have been between 20-30’ (I was tempted to say 40’ but thought people would think I was BSing). It was amazing. Thank God it had a long period. It felt like a road trip over the Rockys

[aln]

The GB was developed and trialed to deal specifically with west coast sea conditions. Typically east and gulf coast boaters need speed to overcome the large shelf before the blue water starts. I get to albacore at 30 miles here which is an hour ride. so 10% more speed of a planing hull cat is not a huge consideration.

I have to tell you though, with twins on the back people automatically assume its a speed demon which is hardly true of any cat regardless of make. Once I enlighten them on my farther not faster theory they seem to see my point.

[Ironwoodtuna]

Look at Maxwell Aluminum cats, the cost is more but they are a much better riding, faster, better bouyancy going into a big swell unlike the GlaicerBay cats which the displacement hulls cut into and I burried my 22' GB in a 5ft chop and broke the windshield and almost ripped the center console out. With aluminum, ou can get it anyway you want it and its a planning hull, which will lift you rather than cut through the steep sweels.

[prockvoan]

After looking at both and fishing out of different GB's and not a chance to fish out of a WC,just a ride,to me for the Gulf of Mexico,WC has the GB beat!Speed,its one of those things I can do without.Ride and overnighting is what I'm looking into.Yes the GB has a better finish to somewhat a point,but both boats are built good.I do like the idea of having that extra 5-6mph speed,being I have to travel around 35 to as much as 75+miles one way to fish.Both offer a good footing for the walk around which is a must,with WC having a better front deck for people to ride.So,after looking,it came down to the WC270EC when I go out in buy a new boat.Now,which outboards?That is one of those things I'm still looking into!None of them has tickled me yet for the price they are asking!

[Bullshipper]

Open ocean chop and the Puget Sound are 2 different animals.

I favor the WC for price and its tendency to not dig in like a GB, but both of these hulls are great and only your test ride will answer.

The Tomcat is another you might want to look at and then there is Roger Hill

http://www.powercatsnz.com/pages/people.cfm

Click on Power.

[Jason Phillips]

ALN,

I'm with you. I don't care about 10% more speed. Mostconditions going out to San Clemente and back 20-25kts is theaverageI usually do inmy monos and its still a bit of a pounder. I'd be happy with the same speed and a smooth ride.