G3’s Angler series earns a Bachelor of Science in serious deepwater lake and river angling, with a minor in family fun. Rigged with Yamaha’s peppy 115 Vmax SHO outboard, performance was solid; we accelerated from a dead idle to 30 mph in 7.8 seconds, and maxed out at nearly 47 mph. Fuel economy is a strong suit, for sure; at a best-cruise speed of 24.5 mph and 3,500 rpm, the SHO drank at a miserly 4.1 gallons of fuel per hour, giving a frugal 6 miles per gallon. Even at full bore, we recorded nearly 4 miles per gallon, so when conditions allow, let those ponies have their head. With a 19-gallon tank, the Angler V178 F has a 100-mile range while leaving 10 percent in the tank for reserve.
The Angler handles tough conditions too. G3 calls the hull GX2—it’s riveted 0.080-gauge aluminum reinforced with double plating in critical wear areas. The hull corners crisply and handles rough lake and wind chop well.
At the bow, the forward casting platform features small-item storage, with a spot for an optional trolling motor; ours featured a Minn Kota Terrova. Storage compartments plus a deep center rod-storage box dominate the deck forward of the cockpit. A tall walk-through windshield protects from rain and spray in cooler weather, keeping the crew comfortable and ready to fish. The pilot’s console features Baystar hydraulic steering, Yamaha instruments and a standard side-mounted Yamaha control. Storage boxes in the cockpit coamings hold gear on the starboard and additional rods to port. Pilot and navigator seats are pedestal-mounted, with fore-aft adjustments and rotating bases. The aft deck features twin jump seats that fold to extend the deck. G3 does a clean rigging job; the under-transom wiring, hoses, and cables are all well-routed and -supported.
The package price of $46,000 includes an aluminum trailer with radial tires and a spare. Our test boat had a high-gloss deep-blue paint with custom graphics; it’s available in a white or charcoal color scheme as well. The G3 V178 F is competitively priced and ready for fun and fishing.
How We Tested
- Engine: Yamaha 115 hp Vmax SHO four-stroke
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha 13 1/8″ x 18″ 3-blade stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 2.15:1
- Fuel Load: 14 gal.
- Crew Weight: 250 lb.
High Points
- Dual cellphone pockets serve both anglers.
- Tall windscreens with closable center panel plus high freeboard mean a dry ride in snotty water, and a safer environment for your crew.
- Stern jump seats fold down to extend the aft casting deck.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $46,000 (as tested) |
| LOA: | 17’8″ |
| Beam: | 7’4″ |
| Dry Weight: | 1,324 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 6/802 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 19 gal. |
| Livewell Capacity: | 27 gal. |
Speed, Efficiency, Operation
G3 Boats – Lebanon, Missouri; g3boats.com
