FIRST IMPRESSIONS: With a glance at the 2740 Renegade from Glacier Bay, my mind swirled with possibilities. This dual-console catamaran can serve well as a fishing, diving or family-cruising platform. Yet my eyes quickly shifted to fishing features like the cockpit with plenty of elbow room for a crew of four and a standard hardtop with six rod holders.
TARGET MARKET: Glacier Bay has maximized dual-console appeal with elements like a walk-in head compartment in the port console with five feet of headroom and solar-powered ventilation, a portside L-lounge with seating for four, a wet bar abaft the lounge, and seating for four in the open bow. Everyone will appreciate the fold-down aft jump seats. The Glacier Bay displacement hull offers luxury of its own, knifing cleanly through wind chop. But don’t expect blazing speed – powered by a pair of Suzuki DF150 four-stroke outboards, we maxed out at 39.6 mph. The 27-footer banks in slightly on low-speed turns, but leans outward when brought about at higher speeds.
FISHIEST FEATURES: I adored the drawers below the wet bar for stowing lures and terminal tackle. And the bow area houses a pair of 125-quart insulated fish boxes that drain overboard. This is an addition to a pair of 100-quart insole fish lockers in the cockpit. The forepeak features a bow pulpit with a pair of anchor lockers, in case you want to set up on a wreck or reef, though I’d also order the optional Lewmar free-fall windlass. Four flush-mount rod holders adorn the cockpit gunwales, with horizontal storage under the gunwales for rods, gaffs and boat hooks. A 15-gallon live well is nestled into the wet bar, but for serious fishing, ask the dealer to install an after-market bait tank on the swim platform between the twin outboards.
THE LAYOUT: The bow offers lots of fishing room, but watch the four-inch step up – I tripped on it going forward. Going aft, a door in the middle of the transom lets you access the swim platform. The deluxe captain’s seat has a flip-up bolster that converts to a leaning post, with an angled footrest below the console to brace yourself while driving. The full windshield (with a hinged walk-through to the bow) protects captain and crew from spray. The 2740 features Teleflex SeaStar steering with a tilt-and-lock helm. The dash provides enough space to flush-mount a 12-inch multifunction LCD display.
FINAL IMPRESSIONS: While hardcore saltwater anglers might dismiss a dual-console design, the boat-buying public has latched on to the versatility of this layout. If you’re an angler who needs family approval to get a new boat, a dual-console such as Glacier Bay’s 2740 might be a great choice. Not only does it offer creature comforts like a freshwater shower, removable dining table and 150-quart cooler under the lounge, it also offers a remarkably stable and seaworthy ride with a range of 430 miles, giving you the ability to reach the fish anywhere they’re biting.
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA: 27 ft. 0 in.
BEAM: 8 ft. 9 in.
DRAFT: 1 ft. 8 in.
DEADRISE: N/A
WEIGHT: 6,600 lb. (w/ twin 150s)
FUEL: 180 gal.
MAX. POWER: 300 hp OB
SUZUKI 150 HP FOUR-STROKE
TYPE: Inline-4
DISPLACEMENT: 174.9 cid
MAX RPM: 6,000
HP/LB RATIO: 0.497
GEAR RATIO: 2.5:1
WEIGHT: 474 lb.
ALTERNATOR OUTPUT: 44 amps
MSRP: $132,903 (base w/ twin Yamaha F150s)
PERFORMANCE AT A GLANCE
TOP SPEED: 39.6 mph
TIME TO PLANE: 5.2 sec.
0-30 MPH TIME: 7.8 sec.
BEST MPG: 2.4 @ 22.3 mph (3,500 rpm)
MAXIMUM RANGE: 432 miles
