The average price for a large bowrider is about $40,000. You’ve done tons of research to find one that’s a little more affordable, but to no avail. You eagerly want to own a new bowrider, but are you stuck paying $40k to $50k for one, or can you get a somewhat cheaper boat? What is the best bowrider for less than $40k?
The best bowrider for under $40k is the Glastron GT 180. This inexpensive, entry-level bowrider costs about $29,333 to $31,333 as a starting price, which is quite well-priced for a boat lover on a budget.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Glastron GT 180, then you’re not going to want to miss this article. Ahead, we’ll discuss all the specs and features included with this reasonable bowrider. We’ll also recommend a few other bowriders at around $40k if you’re looking for more options. Keep reading!
Who Is Glastron?
First, let’s start with a bit of background on the Glastron brand. Founded in 1956, Glastron has a multi-decade history. The company got its start when a group of boater enthusiasts, Guy Woodard, Bob Shoop, Bill Gaston, and Bob Hammond started the company in Austin, Texas.
Glastron created the Super Stable Vee or SSV hull, which put them on the map. This hull, which is included in many of Glastron’s bowriders and boats today, has a wide reverse that adds stability to turns while improving precision and lift. The hull’s design also allows water to the bank, providing a running surface that lessens front-to-back and side-to-side rocking.
The Aqua Lift is another well-known and beloved feature of Glastron’s boats and bowriders that is still produced. This handy boat lift makes your rider smoother and more enjoyable by boosting stability on choppy lakes or rough oceans.
If you’ve ever seen Live and Let Die in the James Bond film franchise, the boat Bond rides in the chase scene is a Glastron Glastonbury. That’s been one of Glastron’s most popular offerings for years.
These days, Glastron manufactures deck boats, ski fishing boats, and bowriders.
An Introduction to the Best Bowrider Under $40K: Glastron GT 180
Now that you know a little more about the fascinating Glastron brand, let’s discuss their premier bowrider for under $40k, the GT 180. The price for this boat starts at between $29,333 to $31,333, which is still well under the $40k price limit you’ve set.
Specs
The GT 180 weighs 2,010 pounds with the engine and boat combined. It has a draft down length of 30 inches, a draft up length of 14 inches, and a beam that’s seven feet, five inches long. The bridge clearance on the GT 180 is three feet, 10 inches, unless you have a tower or arch. Then your clearance increases to six feet, 10 inches.
The trailer height with the wakeboard tower down is seven feet, one inch. When you raise the wakeboard tower, you get a trailer height of nine feet, four inches. The trailer’s store length is 21 feet, five inches. All said, the GT 180 has an overall length of 17 feet, 10 inches. Its height is four feet, 10 inches, with six feet, four inches of height on the trailer.
The deadrise of this Glastron bowrider is 20 degrees. You get 24 gallons as an average fuel capacity. The GT 180 can travel at a maximum horsepower of 150 HP, and its max weight capacity is 1,800 pounds. That gives you room for eight passengers.
Features
Besides the exceptional performance of the Glastron GT 180, this lower-priced bowrider also comes with a slew of features designed for comfort, control, design, and bragging rights.
For example, you have four options for the exterior color of your boat. These are white with Phantom Gray, white with Jet Black, white with Denim Blue, and white with Crimson Red. The interior color is Cognac, unless you build your own boat. Then you can choose from interior hues like Savannah Sand or Lunar Ebony.
The base engine equipped with the GT 180 is a Mercury 90 ELPT four-stroke engine with USB charge ports, an automatic outlet, and several bilge pumps.
Curious about trailering the GT 180? Here are the features that make towing this Glastron bowrider a breeze:
- Swing-away tongue
- LED lighting throughout that’s submersible
- Self-centering bunks
- Heavy-duty jack stand
- Custom trailer with a single axle and brakes
You’ll find yourself spending a lot of time at the helm of the GT 180, as this part of the bowrider is loaded with the following features:
- A pull-knob and switches for easy access
- A deluxe tilting steering wheel
- An instrumentation helm with a speed gauge, GPS, and digital gauges, including an hour meter
- An emergency engine shut-off
- Carbon fiber dashboard panels and gauge tubes
- Fog-resistant custom gauges
Don’t worry about entertaining your guests when you invite them aboard the Glastron GT 180. Besides the great conversations you’ll share with your friends and family, you can also take advantage of these fantastic entertainment options:
- Bluetooth auxiliary port
- AM/FM radio
- Stereo
- Dual speakers
The cockpit on this bowrider is another standout, as it’s rife with features such as:
- A water intrusion management system to reduce flood damage
- Premium contoured vinyl upholstery with Glastron custom detailing
- Cockpit sidewall storage
- Further storage under the seats in the cockpit and the bow
- Molded fiberglass ski locker built into the floor with a mat
- ComfortRide seating with flip-up bucket bolsters
- Cockpit bench seating
- Bow cushion seating
- Port console glove box
- Customizable interior color scheme
- Built-in under-bench cooler
- Coaming pads with comfort padding and hand-fitted vinyl details
- Synthetic beverage holders and assist rails
The hull and the deck boast these features:
- Stern swim platform
- SSV hull
- Rub rail with an insert made of stainless steel
- LED navigation lights
- Telescoping ladder at the stern
- Horn
- Fiberglass stringer system
- Stainless steel cleats and stern and bow eyes
Customization
Glastron gives you the freedom to customize your GT 180 so it’s exactly to your specifications. For example, you can select from these awesome engines:
- Yamaha F90 LB, which boosts the boat price to $30,400
- Yamaha F150 LB at $36,267
- Yamaha F115 LB at $31,467
- Mercury 150 ELPT Four-Stroke at $35,200
- Mercury 115 ELPT Four-Stroke at $30,400
You can also add on these great packages:
- The XL Package in Dune or Ash with removable reed mat flooring, a depth gauge and water temperature, pull-up cleats, bow scuff plate, stainless steel beverage holders, and stainless steel assist handles for $1,273 extra
- The Premium Sound package with a Kicker subwoofer, stereo remote display at the transom, and a lighting package for $953 extra
You might wish to add to your GT 180 trailer with the following features:
- Aluminum spare tire and wheel for $413
- Glastron custom-matched trailer with a single axle and GatorHyde brakes for $913
- Two aluminum wheels for $313
- Spare wheel and tire for $293
Stay cool and protect your skin from the sun with these customizable canvas picks:
- Sunbrella Bimini top for $707
- Sunbrella cockpit and cover for $453
- Sunbrella bow and cover for $187
At the helm, you can add a premium upgrade tilting steering wheel for $300, and at the cockpit, removable reed mat flooring for $540 and bow fill-in cushions for $220. You can even buy swim platform mats for $347.
Of course, because you’re trying to limit how much you spend on your bowrider, you won’t want to take advantage of all these features, or else you’ll end up spending $40k on the Glastron GT 180 too, if not more.
Which Other Great Bowriders Are Available for $40k or Less?
If you want a bowrider that’s a little more sizable than the Glastron GT 180, here are a few more picks for your consideration. All are closer to $40k, and some are even that expensive.
Bayliner 215 BR
We recently wrote about the Bayliner VR4, which we declared the best bowrider under 20 feet. Another Bayliner bowrider, the 215 BR, costs about $33,600. It’s streamlined like the VR4, as the 215 BR is 20 and a half feet long. The settee in a trendy L-shape accommodates a decent number of passengers, who can sit in the stylish bucket seats.
The bowrider features a sunbed that’s convertible with several configurations. You also have a second sunbed in the 215 BR’s aft, which is bigger. For water skiing, fishing, or recreational boating, the Bayliner 215 BR is a good bowrider to consider.
Four Winns Horizon 190
If you can spend more time saving up so you can afford a bowrider with a starting price of $40,000, the Four Winns Horizon 190 is a fantastic boat. At 19 feet, it’s anything but small, and it has room for nine of your friends and family. The Stable V hull, a Four Winns staple, retains stability even during turning, much like Glastron’s SSV hull does. Some models of the Horizon 190 can easily achieve 270 HP, which is not too shabby.
Conclusion
You don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune to get a high-quality bowrider. By digging a little deeper, you might come across an affordable boat like Glastron’s GT 180. If you buy this bowrider with few bells and whistles through the customization packages, you can get the GT 180 for around $30k.
Even if you did decide a few of those boat additions are must-haves, the GT 180 is inexpensive enough that you can afford some add-ons without blowing through your budget. Now that’s a savvy way to buy a boat!
