Older Gambler stability ??

[blackxpress]

I have an opportunity to get a pretty decent deal on a 1986 GT-183. Always wanted a Gambler. My current boat is an Xpress X70 (performance aluminum). For a tin boat the Xpress is very stable in rough water but not near as stable as some comparably sized glass boats (Ranger, for example). I fish Ohio River a lot and need something that's both fast and stable in rough water. My question is this. I've heard the new Gamblers are extremely good in rough water but the early models were not. Any truth to that? Any of you guys ever owned an 80s model GT-183? I would not be able to try it out on the river before buying it and, even if I did the river is alot rougher some days than others.

[CRIMSONGAMBLER]

Had a 89 183, probaly the best boat i have owned in a 18 footer. Fished on Guntersville a lot back then and had no problems with it. It is fast and fun to drive.

[mikie]

I run my '97 209 on the Ohio quite a bit, never seen a barge wake she didn't like if that helps. Your test ride should tell you what you need to know, good luck with it. m

[blackxpress]

When you say fast, how fast are you talking? The boat I'm looking at has a 93 Faststrike 175 on a jackplate. Assuming optimum setup what kind of top speed should I be able to reasonably expect?

[CRIMSONGAMBLER]

Did not have a gps back then, but the way it pulled at my jaws and eyes(speedo) said 76 when it started coming out of the water. Yeah, i know some of these guy wont believe they will run like that. Stock 150 black-max with the lower unit sunk and all the trim i could get.

[blackxpress]

Well, I test drove it today and you guys are right. Fast and fun to drive. I really couldn't tell anything about rough water ride because we tested it on the Great Miami River and the water was smooth as glass. I did make a couple of U-turns and ran back through my own wake but that doesn't really qualify as rough water. I'm really not too worried about it now anyway because the boat can go really slow without falling off plane. That's something I hadn't considered before. My Xpress needs to be moving along pretty good to stay on plane which makes for a pretty bumpy ride when the water's rolling. With the Gambler I was able to slow down to around 30 mph and still keep it on the pad. I probably could've gone slower than that if I really wanted to. I just need to learn how to drive it. As long as I can go slow enough to jump over the big barge wakes and swells without getting a face full of boat I'll be O.K.