Boat Review - Glasstream 280 Pro-XS

Glasstream Powerboats have been a very popular, sporty, and moderately priced center console option for many years now. These race boat inspired hulls have undergone design revisions over the years as the market has dictated the need, however the current look for Glasstream seems to have finally found the home it's been searching for. The new popularity of recreational boats participating in “Lifestyle” boating has exploded into a legitimate industry of its own. Poker runs, sandbar meet-ups, island hopping and recreational cruising have joined fishing, diving, and watersports among the list of important qualities necessary to make a sale in the new boat market and Glasstream is listening.

The 280 Pro-XS is a versatile performance hull configured in a deck style that allows you to fish or dive if you'd like, tow a skier or tube behind, and still offers a comfortable floor plan for multiple passengers, friends, and family to relax and put their feet up. The entire Glasstream line is enjoying a surge in popularity within the Poker Run crowd and a combination of functionality in multiple venues along with an original style that can be customized to suit the needs of many; coupled with sports car performance is assuring this company a solid foothold in the marketplace.

For cruising, the 280 Pro-XS is built around a total bow to stern deck seating plan with a molded glass U-shaped low profile sofa bench forward and a full width transom bench in the cockpit. Each lounge seat features thick padded upholstery with a wide bolster backrest. The forward seating offers three separate storage compartments below them while beneath the deck forward, a 200-quart fishbox with a macerator pump-out is useful to ice your catch. The console interior is accessed via a forward lifting hatch revealing another large storage option and optional marine head. Whether underway or parked at the beach relaxing, the seating configuration is comfortable and uncomplicated. The helm seat arrangement splits the two lounge areas in the center with a driver and companion back bolster racing seat that is protected by abundant shade beneath the hard top.

The racing style seating at the helm is particularly well suited for the high performance personality of the 280 Pro-XS. This boat paired with twin Mercury 200 Four strokes was an absolute panic to run. A feeling like I had stolen my dad's hot rod and taken it out for a joy ride was the pervasive theme all day during testing. It was difficult to resist the urge to constantly lean on the throttles and let this thing eat. The boat leaps out of the hole instantly and between the High Lift Ventilated Step hull design and the instant torque of the Mercury power the Glasstream motivated quickly into the 50's and would snap your head back while forcing you to grab the nearest handhold and hang on tight.

Despite the hot rod performance, the boat is also remarkably efficient throwing down 3.4 MPG fuel economy at 42-MPH while providing 413-miles of range with 10-percent of fuel to spare. Despite the usefulness as a cruising boat this boat still offers fishability as well and these fuel figures would certainly come in handy should a run to distant fishing grounds be called for. The boat comes rigged standard with four rod holders, a pair of 15-gallon livewells at the transom corners, the fishbox to store your catch, and fresh and raw washdowns to tidy up after the catch. Certainly more fishing options could be added and the boat is infinitely customizable to suit your specific style between custom paint and graphics as well as audio equipment and lighting. This boat should find its place among today's growing crowd of recreational sport cruisers both wild and restless youth and outdoor sports families alike.

Glasstream 280 Pro-XS Specifications

Length: 27-feet 8-inches

Beam: 8-feet 5-inches

Draft: 18-inches

Weight: 5900-pounds

Horsepower: Twin 150/200/225 or Single 350

Fuel: 135-gallons