PERFORMANCE
TEST ENGINES MerCruiser 4.5-litre V6 250hp petrol
FIGURES ECO FAST MAX
RPM 1,000 2,000 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000
Speed 4 7 12 19 24 29 32
LPH 6 14 34 37 46.5 62 76
GPH 1.3 3.1 7.5 8.1 10.2 13.6 16.7
MPG 3.1 2.3 1.6 2.3 2.3 2.1 1.9
Range 144 107 74 107 107 98 88
THE COSTS & OPTIONS
Price from £87,654 inc VAT
Price as tested £101,403 inc VAT
Cockpit reed mat £585
Camper canopy £1,788
Convenience pack £1,278
Dockside power package £5,114
Corian package (head and cockpit) £841
Electric anchor winch £2,184
(with anchor and chain)
GPS chartplotter and sounder £1,425
Stereo with remote £534Regal 26 Express
Price from £88,839
Edgy styling and very
nicely finished.= Options on test boatSpeed in knots. GPH & MPG figures use imperial gallons. Range in nautical milesSpeed in knotsSpeed in knotSpeed in knotSpeed in knotSpeed in knotSpeed in knot. GPH & MPG figur GPH & MPG figures us GPH & MPG figur GPH & MPG figur GPH & MPG figur GPH & MPG figur GPH & MPG figur GPH & MPG figurs use imperial ge imperial ge imperial ge imperial ge imperial gallonsallonsallons Range in nauticange in nautical milee in nautice in nautice in nautical mileal miles
and allows forand alloand allowand alloand allos fororor 2 20 20%0% reserve. Calculated figures based on manufacturers figures, reserve Calculated figur Calculat Calculat Calculated figured figured figures bs based on manufed on manufed on manufed on manufactured on manufed on manufacturacturers figurs figurs figuress figur,
yyyour figuryour figures may vary considerably.our figurour figurour figures maour figurs mas may vy varary cy consideronsideronsiderablyonsiderablyably95%95%95%95% fuel, fuel, fuel,0%0%0% water, w waaterr, 22 crew + minimal stores. crew + minimal sw + minimal sw + minimal sw + minimal sw + minimal sw + minimal sttores
2 27°C 22 7°C7°C air temperature, smooth sea, air temper air t air temperemperaturaturature smooth s smooth se smooth s smooth s smooth seaF2F2 for speed trials. for speed trialsor speed trials.or speed trialsor speed trialsor speed trialsor speed trialsor speed trialsRIVALS
Bayliner Ciera 8
Price from £80,080
Great-value boat that maxes
interior space, partly at the
cost of exterior lines.Light wood and
coloured linings
add visual interestThe heads is very spacious
for this size of boatThe mid cabin gains
headroom at the pillow end
from the chaise longue aboveopening centre section of the windscreen. It’s not an uncommon
arrangement in boats of this type, although optional high-level
pulpit rails would offer a little more confi dence. The payback is a
full-beam cockpit with a single-level fl oor that maximises available
space and sports a couple of neat details. Both backrests fl ip-
fl op fore and aft, the front one alternating the forward section
of seating between a helm seat or additional aft-facing dinette
seating. The back one does the same, giving more space around
the dinette or a bathing platform seat which offers a terrifi c view
out across the water at anchor. A chaise longue provides additional
seating next to the helm (backrests are padded at both ends
making this a perfectly usable forward-facing seat underway),
as well as offering more space inside at the head end of the
bed. Nothing new there, but the galley just aft of it is a neat and
unusual touch, allowing cockpit caterers a second fridge as well
as a hob and sink. Triple-tone upholstery with diamond-quilted
inserts lends this area a touch of class. An optional full-length
‘camper’ canopy gives standing headroom throughout, turning
this area into a cosy second living area with the side curtains in,
or creating an effective bimini with them out. If you wish to run
completely alfresco, the intelligently confi gured stainless-steel
frame concertinas forward, self supporting with the folded top
furled around it.ON THE THROTTLES
All that height and space within such compact dimensions and
narrow beam create two obvious areas of compromise. A slab-
sided look is a potential inevitability, but one that Glastron disguises
reasonably well with a low-profi le windscreen and bold hull
graphics in a choice of three colours as standard. Of more interest
is the dynamic effect of all that height within a narrow beam, and
with a brisk wind blowing through the pretty French town of Le
Lavandou, we’ve got the perfect test conditions – a sheltered bay
with a large swell running down the coast just off the headland.
There are no diesel options, currently at least. Glastron offers
the GS 259 with MerCruiser’s 4.5-litre V6 giving 250hp as standard,
or a feisty 6.2-litre V8 giving 300hp for those that want more
power and speed. Similarly sized Volvo Penta motors are also
on the options list, giving a broadly similar spread. Also on the
options list is a bow thruster, something that the windage of
those slab sides makes a desirable one. We have the latter, but
no upgrades on the engine, our test boat running the basic
MerCruiser. But in truth, the boat runs well with it. Two up, it’s
fast on to the plane, and tops out at a respectable 32 knots at WOT
and 4,800rpm. A comfortable cruising gait spans 20 to 25 knots,
the engine turning over at between 3,500 and 3,900rpm. Those
high sides mean that the trim tabs receive a good workout – ina stiff breeze, be prepared to re-tab for each direction change.
But it’s nothing that the standard-fi t Lenco tabs can’t easily cope
with, and it’s entirely expected for a boat of this size and style.
What’s less expected is how well the hull copes with the rough
stuff off the headland. Yes, we got a bit wet occasionally and no,
you probably wouldn’t choose to be out in these conditions in
such a small boat. But Glastron’s fl agship cruiser offers greater
ability than you might expect, and one day, that extra dose of
confi dence might just make that difference between upgrading
to a Princess V39 or hitting a small, white ball around a fi eld.
Contact http://www.glastron.comBOAT REPORT