SUBJECT: # 19281: Glacier Bay 252 Cuddy 1997?? Feedback/Comments Anyone??

Submitted by Steve L (204.60.49.156) from CONNECTICUT on 3/10/2001 11:28:00 AM

Am considering purchasing a 1997 GB 252 Cuddy. Anyone familiar with this particular model? Boat will be used for offshore and LI sound fishing primarily. Your frank comments and suggestions will be appreciated. Steve L, CT

1. 3/10/2001 6:16:00 PM Submitted by Leprechaun (12.88.120.88) from NEW YORK says Nice boat
   Steve - go on over to Pescoe's site www.yachtsurvey.com and check out the re-review he did on that boat. I guess a bunch of the issues he had with the boat in his initial review were listened to and addressed by GB. That in and of itself is the sign of responsible ownership. And I've never met a cat owner who wasn't enthusiastic about his boat. (Kinda like another brand I like, eh Donald?) and if you get her with some modern power on her, should be pretty good on gas. Is this the boat with the fiberglass enclosed house on her? That boat seems a little tight in the cockpit for fishing room. I mean for a boat of its size. But maybe fishing's not your thing. I jumped on one at the NY Boat Show and it seemed very solidy constructed. Funky/Cool looking too. I like it. Rgds, Leprechaun

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2. 3/10/2001 10:52:00 PM Submitted by Steve L (204.60.204.206) from CONNECTICUT says If you are interested Leprechaun?
   Leprechaun: Thanks for the info. Yes I am an avid fisherman and like the fact that this boat is set up for Offshore. If you are interested, you can go to the following web site to view pictures of the boat and then feel free to comment further. Thanks again. Steve L, CT

   Http://www.used-boats.net/zboat43.html

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3. 3/11/2001 7:48:00 AM Submitted by Leprechaun (12.88.109.199) from NEW YORK says Took A Look
   Steve - I surfed over there and took a look. It appears real clean and there's a few things I do like. The centered Helm apears to be a good idea, similar to what Pursuit is now doing with their 30-34' boats. The head looks real tight, just like my boat, also 26'. I turned it into a gear locker. It looks well maintained, but only being a few years old it should. What concerns me is that it is of the exact vintage that Pescoe ripped in his first GB review, its too early to be the recipient of the revisions GB made that he favorably spoke of in his second review. Now I don't take everything he says at face, but with so few of this type of boat around (and model for that matter), you've got to base your opinions on something.

   Is it me or do most of these new Cats, regardless of maker, look like giant tunnel hulls? I think if I were in the market for a boat like this I would look hard at the KevlaCat24, it got a really positive review from Power Boat Reports and it breaks with the symetric dual hull concept, using some proprietary asymetric shaping, purportedly to give a better ride. Plus its got that "Industrial," no-nonsense look I like, but I have exactly ZERO experience with these boats, my contact limited to a demo ride on a Grady TigerCat26, (Which gave a GREAT ride through some nasty stuff, by the way), but it seems to me that for the size of boat we are talking about, the cockpit on all the Cat cuddy models seem to be a liitle tight. This is exacerbated by the very large transom and swim platform/engine mount area that eats up a few more feet of valuable space. But this doesn't seem limited to just the Cats. Many mono-hulls have the same "Euro-transom" thingie, I don't care for it only because I typically fish at anchor and my 6-7' rods would have to be lengthened to fish off the stern ;-}. Also all gaffable fish would have to pulled over a gunnel, forget gaffing off the stern. All this goes away if you really like the boat. Every rig has a compromise somewhere, and if the cat thing is for you. Based on my limited exposure and what I've read from owners here and on other boards, I would say that these boats deserve a hard look from the outboard-running crowd. Which brings me to my last point, those twin 150 non-DFI egines might be a tad thirsty if you intend to do much offshore work, maybe you should look for something Ficht/Optimax/HDPI or 4-cycle?

   I generally like one-off types of boats, and whenever I'm fishing with my Shamrock brother, and I've got a few, and a Cat barrels past I always look hard and make a positive comment, my buddies think I'm nuts to even look at outboards, but like I say, I like boats that are different, that adhere to the "Form follows function" mentality, too many cookie-cutters out there.

   And take a surf through this site - plenty of nice rigs here too:

   www.boattraderonline.com

   Rgds, Leprechaun

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4. 3/11/2001 8:53:00 AM Submitted by BillS from TEXAS says Glacier Bay problems
   I am acquainted with a gentlmen who used to build boats and now runs a fiberglass repair business. He was contracted by a Glacier bay dealer in the area I fish to do warranty repair work for the boats. GB's from the time period you are interested in had a problem with the hull to deck joint in the rear of the tunnel coming apart enough to take on water while running. He must have fixed a dozen or so before the factory incorporated a fix and reinforced that area. They have been pretty much trouble free from that point on, which was mid 98 or so. BillS

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5. 3/11/2001 9:21:00 AM Submitted by David (63.107.192.135) from GEORGIA says Glacier Bay
   I spent over 7 years in a Glacier Bay 202 and had very few problems with the boat. The ride is unbelievable, and the boat is well built. I believe that 97 was the last year the 252 was produced. it was replaced by the 26' walk around cuddy. The 252 hull is the same as the 20' and 22'. My boat was built in the 252 mold, just cut down to 20'. It is a full displacement hull, and offers the best ride, but the trade off is that it is a little slow. The 252s I have seen only have acess to the bow through a hatch, no windshield opening. Your boat looks like it may have a walkthrough windshield. The boat Pascoe didn't like is the 26' canyon runner center console. It is a semi planing hull and is a little faster. I am running a canyon runner with 130 Hondas and it tops out around 40 and gets about 2mpg cruising at 4200. The 202 has a better ride. I have a friend that has a 22' center consol with twin 90 hondas and it is the wettest boat I've seen. Certain wind conditions cause spray to come over the side and it will soak you. My 202 didn't do this, nor does the 260. I would also look at the Kevlacat, simply because of the planing hulls. I haven't ridden in one but it seems that in calm conditions you could go faster, and slow down in rougher condition and still get a decent ride. Hope this helps. Good Luck. David

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6. 3/11/2001 12:16:00 PM Submitted by Jeff (63.15.211.115) from MASSACHUSETTS says Have you looked at the 25' Sea Cat?
   Can't comment on the GB although the new ones look great. I was looking at Cats a month or so back and saw a bunch of 25' Sea Cats in the NE area. Specifically, one on LI that was very well equipped with low hrs for somewhere around 35K. I think it was on Boat Trader online or Yacht World. This boat is spoken highly of and you may be able to get a deal closer to home. Florida seems like a long ways to go to buy a boat. Just thought I'd throw this out there...Good Luck!

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7. 2/15/2008 7:52:00 PM Submitted by Tron #11505 from FLORIDA says Glacier Bay 202
   Hi. I would like to know more about the Glacier Bay 202. I found one for sale and would like to know as much as possible before i buy. Particulary if this boat can handle offshore fishing. Thank you very much.

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