My first reaction when I was sizing up Glacier Bay’s 2740 Renegade was: “What a sweet-looking boat.” I can’t recall admiring the lines of a catamaran before.
Catamarans’ unique looks often set them apart in comparison with monohull boats, turning off some casual buyers. With the 2740, Glacier Bay is looking to change that, building a more stylish cat that meets the all-around needs of a boating family.
The 2740 is built on the same semi-displacement hulls as the old 2665 canyon runner, stretched a few inches on the centerline. Semi-displacement hulls have wider, oval-shaped running surfaces that provide lift, buoyancy and stability. During my sea trial, the 2740 popped right up without humping like a planing hull. I turned the wheel hard over, and the 2740 carved tight, smooth turns, displaying none of the outboard lean typical of some planing cats. Back at the dock, trimming up the outboards revealed Doel-fin hydrofoils, which Glacier Bay says help smooth out the turns.
The shape of the hulls is the same, but under new owner Power Cat Boat Corp., there are some build changes. The 2740 has a full-fiberglass liner. Plus, the hatches and hardtop are resin transfer molded (RTM), producing a smooth finish on both sides, and the coring is now composite, which sheds weight in the build process.
The 2740 offers a deck boat’s bow seating, afforded by the wide forward beam. Under the hardtop is a dual console setup, with an L-shaped lounge to port. Behind the L-lounge, there’s an entertainment center with a stainless-steel sink and Corian countertop and a 10-gallon livewell. Other fishy features: three under-gunwale rod racks to starboard and two to port, four rod holders on the gunwale tops and a six-rod rocket launcher on the hardtop. In the sole are two macerated, insulated fish boxes. How refreshing — a cat that every type of boater can love.
Comparable model: WorldCat 270 SportDeck
