Gulf Coast Bay Boats

gulfcoastbayboats.squarespace.com

You mean these? Looks like they are still in business. Site was a little hard to find.

 

The Gilleys sold the company back in 2014-ish. The new Owner(s) came out with the Saber Cats and is still selling some of the classic hull designs.

 

They are still around. As already mentioned, sold to someone from Friendswood or Pearland.

Redwing had a couple of boats on there floor.

 

I think newer tech (not a popped whaler with a tunnel) is their biggest issue.

 

Yeah, they're kinda a thing of the past. But i will say, the 20 Classic i ran was a super solid boat, had to try to get wet in that thing!

 

I've had my 20LS GC since 09. Ill never get rid of it.

 

Same here, re-powered my 2001 Variside 250 in 2020. Her name is the Battleship. Keep on rollin'! 😁🍻

 

How do they perform in shallow water, compared to a Shallowsport, JH. Dargel, etc?

 

Great boats!

 

My 20LS needs about a 15" to get on plane. Its easier for me to just find deeper water. I don't really think they are in the same category. We had a SS and that thing would run in spit. I heard a guy say a Gulf Coast Boat is a jack of all trades and master of non. He is indeed correct.

 

My Variside won't get up as shallow as my BIL's JH Outlaw (cat hull), but it will run just about as skinny. A tunnel-vee isn't going to be as good as a cat hull in most shallow water conditions, and will run slower as well, but it's definitely better in rough water (IMO).

 

I think they're still around, but they just don't have the calling/reputation they used to. Mike and Susan Gilley sold out many years ago, but stayed on for a year or so afterwards in transition. John Long...former Meeks Marine salesman...was the official buyer. However, there was another investor out of League City/Dickinson who's son-in-law was a TPWD Captain and now retired...which was how/why they were running them back then. When the new ownership took over there were manufacturing process cuts, which is partly why the Gilley's didn't stick around long. I had a 20' high side years ago when the kids were growing up, but I wouldn't own one again unless it was a much older hull.

 

They tried getting into the cat segment, but it doesn't seem like they sold many Sabre Cats.