molleja_rica
New member
want the most stable platform for family with protection from sun/spray. any big differences in ride between planing cat (TC 255) vs semi-dosplacement hull (GB 2640). any help appreciated. thanks.
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tomcat 255 versus glacier bay 2640 renegade sx
- Thread starter molleja_rica
- Start date
starcrafttom
Active member
cant commit on the ride of the glacer vs tom cat. I think for me the biggest difference is that the amount of room and where it is. The tomcat has all the living room above deck and in the light with lots of windows. The cooking and eating area of the glacerbay is below deck in the dark. It has windows but they are port holes not windows. Its more like a pursit or go sport fisher. the cat is just more open and you can sit at anchor enjoy the world around you while you do everything. Go sit is both and think about where you will spend your time.
I spent a fair amount of time in both boats at the Seattle Boat Show, but have ridden in neither. They are completely different boats. The 2640 Renegade is an open bowrider type of boat, with no galley, compared to the 255 Cruiser which is completely set up for cruising. A more comparable boat is Glacier Bay's 2690 Coastal Runner complete with hardtop, Alaskan Bulkhead, galley, referigerator etc. Tom is mistaken, the galley is located in the main cabin, behind the helm, surrounded by bigger windows and better visibility than the Tomcat. I preferred the model with the open back and drop curtain (like on my current boat) instead of the Alaskan bulkhead -- it really opened it up more and would be better for fishing. It would also blend cabin and cockpit activities easier without the wall & door, but this is a personal preference between G.B.'s 2 similar models.
The Tomcat 255 was $116,499 w/twin Honda 150s.
According to Brian Taliaferro of Mater Marine, Glacier Bay is currently not manufacturing any boats or employing anyone at their factory.
They are scrambling to generate income through some creative means: 1 )by clearing their inventory. 2) by borrowing customer's money for some years -- When I asked about the price of the above 2690 Coastal Runner, I was quoted a price of $143,000. After 4 years you get a $21,000 rebate back. 3) by selling outboard motors and offering generous rebates after some time has passed.
Scott Boysen of Sea Sport said something to the effect that.... "A lifetime hull warranty is only good if the manufacturerer is still in business several years down the road." Good point.
The aggessively sharp hulls of the Glacier Bay looks like it would smooth through the rougher water better. The Tomcat looks like a more complete cruising package and easier to tow.
Both are gorgeous boats. C.W.
The Tomcat 255 was $116,499 w/twin Honda 150s.
According to Brian Taliaferro of Mater Marine, Glacier Bay is currently not manufacturing any boats or employing anyone at their factory.
They are scrambling to generate income through some creative means: 1 )by clearing their inventory. 2) by borrowing customer's money for some years -- When I asked about the price of the above 2690 Coastal Runner, I was quoted a price of $143,000. After 4 years you get a $21,000 rebate back. 3) by selling outboard motors and offering generous rebates after some time has passed.
Scott Boysen of Sea Sport said something to the effect that.... "A lifetime hull warranty is only good if the manufacturerer is still in business several years down the road." Good point.
The aggessively sharp hulls of the Glacier Bay looks like it would smooth through the rougher water better. The Tomcat looks like a more complete cruising package and easier to tow.
Both are gorgeous boats. C.W.
I have written several reviews here and in other forums about my thoughts between the Glacier Bay (2690 is comperable to the Tom Cat 255). We did two sea trial in both the Glacier Bay and the Tom Cat before decidiing. I think for a fishing boat the Glacier Bay might be better. For cruising--the Tom Cat wins.
Differences: Ride--into the chop, the Glacier Bay wins--smoother ride, although more likely to "sneeze". The Tom Cat has to be on a plane to have a good ride into chop--aboout the max is a true 3 foot chop--we have run that at 25 plus knots.
Down chop or across chop--the Tom Cat wins. None of the bad handling characteristics attributed to the Glacier bay--such as leaning out on the turn. No capsizes (to be fair one of the Glacier bays may have been over loaded--and the 6 men, loaded fish boxes shifted and the boat capsized.--the other apparently happened when the hull to deck joint failed, and the boat sank. There have been some handling problems down heavy seas or in beam seas with the Glacier Bay--none with the Tom Cat.
Speed: Tom Cat wins--Top speed 49, Glacier Bay with similar engines we got about 35 top speed. This translates into a higher cruising speed.
Fuel economy: Tom Cat wins--we run about 2.2 miles a gallon at 25 mph. The Glacier Bay was under 2 miles a gallon.
Ability to run at semi displacement speed--Glacier bay--will run at any speed up to max. The Tom Cat needs to be on a plane to get the best ride. We can plane down to about 12 knots with the Permatrims. (some claim 10 knots).
Deck--the Glacier Bay has 13" side deck on one side--narrow on the other. The Tom Cat has narrow decks on both sides, but I am able go foreward as well on both boats. Cockpit, probably about the same. I do like the generator box for the Glacier bay--but it is hard to get over on the swim step. Fish boxes: Tom Cat's leak, not sure about the Glacier Bay.
Cabin: Tom Cat wins hands down. The foreward opening window is essential for us. The huge bunk foreward is much easier to get in and out of. The galley is twice as big, and the dinette/table will seat four, vs 2 for the Glacier Bay--the navigator seat faces foreward in the Tom Cat--this is an option in the Glacier Bay. Tom Cat all on one level.
Head--Glacier Bay in the sleeping cabin. Tom Cat, encloser separate head on one level
Quality control--probably the Glacier Bay is slightly better, but there are several reports of hull to deck problems on the Glacier Bay. There have been some quality control problems in the Tom Cats--but I truely feel currently the company is on the right track. What I don't know is the future of Glacier Bay. Larry Graff left the company--there were some financial problems I am told, and there is now a new company.
Most important is this forum. In Glacier Bay, you can only "talk" to other Glacier Bay owners--here you have a multitude in a very active forum.
For us, the choice was clear. The Tom Cat 255 is one of the best boats we have owned. I have never thought that I could go thru a 4 foot wake and not pound or slap in a power boat--yet the Tom Cat will do that. So will the Glacier Bay--but if you try it going both ways (into and riding with the sea)--the handling of the boats will be telling--the Tom Cat wins
Differences: Ride--into the chop, the Glacier Bay wins--smoother ride, although more likely to "sneeze". The Tom Cat has to be on a plane to have a good ride into chop--aboout the max is a true 3 foot chop--we have run that at 25 plus knots.
Down chop or across chop--the Tom Cat wins. None of the bad handling characteristics attributed to the Glacier bay--such as leaning out on the turn. No capsizes (to be fair one of the Glacier bays may have been over loaded--and the 6 men, loaded fish boxes shifted and the boat capsized.--the other apparently happened when the hull to deck joint failed, and the boat sank. There have been some handling problems down heavy seas or in beam seas with the Glacier Bay--none with the Tom Cat.
Speed: Tom Cat wins--Top speed 49, Glacier Bay with similar engines we got about 35 top speed. This translates into a higher cruising speed.
Fuel economy: Tom Cat wins--we run about 2.2 miles a gallon at 25 mph. The Glacier Bay was under 2 miles a gallon.
Ability to run at semi displacement speed--Glacier bay--will run at any speed up to max. The Tom Cat needs to be on a plane to get the best ride. We can plane down to about 12 knots with the Permatrims. (some claim 10 knots).
Deck--the Glacier Bay has 13" side deck on one side--narrow on the other. The Tom Cat has narrow decks on both sides, but I am able go foreward as well on both boats. Cockpit, probably about the same. I do like the generator box for the Glacier bay--but it is hard to get over on the swim step. Fish boxes: Tom Cat's leak, not sure about the Glacier Bay.
Cabin: Tom Cat wins hands down. The foreward opening window is essential for us. The huge bunk foreward is much easier to get in and out of. The galley is twice as big, and the dinette/table will seat four, vs 2 for the Glacier Bay--the navigator seat faces foreward in the Tom Cat--this is an option in the Glacier Bay. Tom Cat all on one level.
Head--Glacier Bay in the sleeping cabin. Tom Cat, encloser separate head on one level
Quality control--probably the Glacier Bay is slightly better, but there are several reports of hull to deck problems on the Glacier Bay. There have been some quality control problems in the Tom Cats--but I truely feel currently the company is on the right track. What I don't know is the future of Glacier Bay. Larry Graff left the company--there were some financial problems I am told, and there is now a new company.
Most important is this forum. In Glacier Bay, you can only "talk" to other Glacier Bay owners--here you have a multitude in a very active forum.
For us, the choice was clear. The Tom Cat 255 is one of the best boats we have owned. I have never thought that I could go thru a 4 foot wake and not pound or slap in a power boat--yet the Tom Cat will do that. So will the Glacier Bay--but if you try it going both ways (into and riding with the sea)--the handling of the boats will be telling--the Tom Cat wins
starcrafttom
Active member
cw thanks for the correction I was thinking that the galley was forward and below. is that another boat. Problem with boat shows is that all start to look alike.