![]() Not long after, in 1987, Glastron Boats was purchased by Genmar Industries, headed by Irwin Jacobs. Glastron moved its operations in 1984 from Austin to new manufacturing facilities in New Braunfels, Texas. The hull combined the stability and quick-planing characteristics of a tri-hull with the smooth ride of a deep-vee hull, the company says. The company introduced its Super Stable Vee hull in 1977. Sales continued to increase in the 1970s with Glastron’s annual production reaching 24,000 units - an average of 96 boats per day. “You could have five people on one side of the boat and one person on the other and not feel like the boat was going to tip,” says Glastron vice president and general manager Bruce Sargent. The boats were wider and more stable than deep-vee models. In 1969 Glastron acquired California-based Carlson Boats and launched its first tri-hull line called the Swinger Series. These Evinrudes were well-done, well built boats.At the onset of the 1962 model year, Glastron launched the first sterndrive propulsion system, offering the Volvo-powered V-164 Bayflite and the OMC-powered V-154 Futura. ![]() In that alone is the value.Ī friend and I took one of these that was in nearly the same condition apart several years ago – a guy bought the motor/drive out of it for another boat, and someone else wanted the boat and converted it into an outboard for his family. My generation got there in plywood daycruisers/runabouts (see pic). Boat Restoration, Building, and Hull Repair. Yeah, some are pretty ugly – (Fiberform with the windshield all the way forward comes to mind) and many were poorly built, but the 70’s and early 80’s were not exactly a time of quality transportation choices in this country – they echo the era.īut, the point made by another above about getting families into boating is right on. I have a love of tri-hulls, having owned a 13′ Boston Whaler from 8th grade through college – (looking for another early 13 now, but it’s got to be right) – and those I have been in ride no worse than the typical Resorter…įunny how tri-hulls are pretty universally dissed, unless they say Boston Whaler on the side. Plus, that particular series of tri-hulls was a good riding boat. Pretty cool in their own way and very well done from a pure design standpoint. Think “Jetsons” and you will be in the era (and mindset) this boat was designed to please. In my view, it is a successful and unique design which distinguishes real classics from everything else, whether it is cars, boats, architecture or most anything for that matter. What defines a classic, anyway? Market acceptance of a relatively staid but functional design through sales volume, like a U22, Resorter or Arabian? Sales failures but a really unique design like a CC Cobra or Gar Wood Speedster? Is it independant of sales volume? I don’t know, but it is not just hull material as far as I am concerned. How many families bought these and got into boating in them? They apparently worked quite well – so maybe on that basis they should be called a classic? That said, these tri-hulls were a venerable and popular design in their day. ![]() I would say this Tri-Hull is certainly a distinctive design and both exceedingly well preserved and usable, but I would not call it classic. In my opinion, design is more important than hull material in determing what is classic. is also right – though I would add that there are plenty of old wood boats which have much less design, functionality or style put into them than this boat, and they are thought of as “classic” – simply because of hull material, not aesthetic design attributes. Very “unique” styling, but I have to think Matt has the pug analogy right – those dogs are so ugly they are cute. I believe it is an outboard, and because of the way the prevailing wind blows, I often see it in profile while it is moored on its’ buoy, as I drive by. The windshield is even further forward, and considerably so. There is an earlier non-bow rider style of this design on our lake here.
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