Glastron GTS 185 Review

Story by Craig Ritchie Dec. 14, 2015

Since the company leaped to global prominence – literally – with its celebrated appearance jumping over a bayou road in the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die, Glastron has built an enduring reputation for building fun boats known for their lively performance. That legacy lives on today in the company’s GTS 185.

The GTS 185 is an 18-foot sterndrive that rides on Glastron’s exclusive SSV performance hull design, decked out with a unique GTS two-tone gel and graphics package in a choice of sunburst orange, jet black or laser red. Bright colors, strong lines and overall aggressive styling make a bold statement that this is a boat built for fun on the water.

For starters, the integrated swim platform with its neatly padded, non-skid surface conceals a telescopic three-step boarding ladder to starboard, while an available platform extension stretches the boat’s overall length from 18 feet even to 19 feet, six inches. A stainless steel ski tow is standard, as is the convenient stainless steel grab handle just above the boarding ladder.

The starboard cushion of the rear sun pad lifts to reveal further storage, or can be propped up to create a chaise lounge wide enough or two.

To enter the main cockpit you’ll have to pass over the expansive transom sundeck. This is easily the most popular place to hang out on the GT 185, with its thick padded cushioning and the ability to flip up the starboard cushion and form a comfy chaise lounge that’s wide enough or two. Underneath this cushion is a large storage locker.

Inside the cockpit, the full-width stern bench seat offers cavernous storage compartments in its base, easily accommodating PFDs and other bulky gear. Seating for the driver and co-pilot are twin swiveling buckets, with available flip-up bolster cushions for greater visibility when navigating in confined spaces. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and they look it too, with their automobile-inspired diamond stitching in the seat back that suggests a vintage British sports car.

The stern bench seat conceals cavernous storage lockers beneath its seat cushions.

The low-profile, walk-through windshield is also of a roadster-inspired design, adding to the boat’s sporty stance. The passenger console has storage up top in a large locking globe box, with convenient stainless grab handles perfectly placed. Stereo speakers between the buckets and the rear bench seat ensure everyone can enjoy the Sony AM/FM/CD stereo with MP3 port and Bluetooth connectivity.

The helm console matches the rest of the GT 185’s sporty personality, with fog-resistant GTS gauges (including a speedometer with fuel gauge and volt meter, and a tachometer with engine temperature and oil pressure) mounted high on its sports car-like dash. Power steering with tilt adjustment is standard, of course.

There’s additional seating in the bow, with twin forward-facing loungers and a center cushion. It’s tight, to be sure, but if you want to feel the wind in your hair while underway, this is the spot to do it. Stainless grab handles and twin beverage holders offer added comfort. There is still more storage space in the seat bases, while an in-floor ski locker accommodates skis and other watersports equipment.

While the GT 185 comes nicely equipped with standard features alone, Glastron offers a number of options that allow an owner to further personalize the boat. The XL Package, which includes a bow scuff plate, flip-up bucket seats, pull-up cleats, snap-in carpet and stainless steel beverage holders, is a particularly popular option, along with the available hinging wakeboard tower.

Order the XL option package to add pull-=up cleats, snap-in carpeting, stainless steel beverage holders and bucket seats with flip-up bolsters.

Engine choices range from a base MerCruiser 3.0L churning out 135 horsepower all the way up to Mercury’s all-new MerCruiser 4.5L V6 with 250 ponies. The 4.5L is an exciting match for this boat, being purpose-built from the ground up as a marine engine, and not adapted from automotive roots. It offers V8 performance in a fuel-efficient V6 package, with more than enough power and grunt to make the most of the GTS 185’s performance pedigree.