Wellington Yacht Partners currently has Uncharted, a GrandBanks 47 East Bay Flybridge, listed for $749,000. The 2007 Downeast-style flybridge yacht has a two-stateroom, two-head layout. A straight and stately sheerline and trunk cabin help to form the yacht’s timeless profile.

Sole-to-ceiling satin-finished teak, light tones and natural lighting give this 47-footer’s salon a warm, inviting atmosphere. Guests will find seating on both sides of the salon with two club chairs to starboard, separated by an entertainment center with a retractable flat-screen TV, and a three-person, L-shaped sofa with a folding coffee table to port. The lower helm station is to starboard with side-deck access via a door next to it, a great setup for shorthanded cruising. There is bench seating for companions to port.

Forward and down a few steps is the Grand Banks Eastbay 47 Flybridge’s galley, two staterooms and two heads. The galley is immediately to port with a U-shaped countertop, a convection oven/microwave, a sink, stowage, a cooktop and a top-loading refrigerator and freezer. Forward of the galley is the second head, which doubles as a day head. The forepeak owners’ stateroom has a centerline berth and an en suite head. The starboard guest stateroom has twin berths.

When it comes to outside space, the teak cockpit is a blank slate. Owners can add some loose chairs for sundowners with friends, or put a few rods in the rod holders and let the kids catch dinner. Then again, why choose?

Spiral stairs lead to the flybridge where there is an L-shaped sofa and fixed table set abaft the two-seat upper helm station. The flybridge can become an all-weather space by zipping shut its brand-new polycarbonate enclosure.

Twin 700 hp Caterpillar C12 diesels provide power for Uncharted giving it a reported 32-knot top hop. Yachting ’s original test of the Grand Banks 47 Eastbay Flybridge had the same engines and we reported, “The 47FB consumed just two gallons per mile, whether we were doing 14 knots or 25 knots, which gives a skipper some good choices.”

It’s worth noting that Uncharted‘s engines have just 985 hours on them.

Some notable features on this yacht include a new Freedom Lift (dinghy not included in sale), new Garmin electronics, a 2022 Grand Banks installed flybridge hardtop with lighting, 1,000 hour service on mains and generator completed, new after-cooler cores, new exhaust risers, new Poseidon interior window shades in salon, a new Yamaha entertainment system, a new ice maker, new flybridge upholstery, new salon upholstery, new exterior side and windshield mesh screens and three new air-conditioning compressors.

Read the Whole Story From the Yachting Archive: Grand Banks 47 Eastbay Flybridge

“So, it was a surprise in the mid-1990s when Grand Banks broke the traditional mold and introduced a series of New England-style express cruisers. To the marine world, it couldn’t have been more shocking if Rolls Royce had started building pickups or Moet & Chandon offered a diet cola.

Labeling them as Eastbay yachts originally was a good idea, separating the brands, but the company is now bringing them back into the fold as the Eastbay Series by Grand Banks. That’s an equally good idea at this point, because it helps underline some of the differences between the two lines while still emphasizing the heritage and quality of Grand Banks.” – Yachting, 2007

Where is Uncharted located? The yacht is currently lying in Coral Gables, Florida.

Take the next step: contact the team at Wellington Yacht Partners, wellingtonyachts.com

Quick Specifications:

• Length Overall: 47′
• Maximum Beam: 15′
• Fuel Capacity: 700 Gal.
• Draft: 3’ 9”

The post For Sale: Grand Banks 47 Eastbay Flybridge appeared first on Yachting.

Grand Banks Yachts has made a deal to acquire land in Stuart, Florida, that will expand its footprint with 13,000 more square feet of land and a built-up area of about 2,864 square feet.

The property has berthing for as many as nine boats. It’s currently a private residence opposite the Grand Banks yard in Stuart, Florida, that serves as the company’s U.S. headquarters.

Grand Banks says the acquisition will allow it to service more boats at the same time. The $1.9 million deal will be paid through a $10,000 deposit, about $500,000 more at closing, and $1.4 million paid over a period of 15 years starting in July 2024.

The deal is expected to be completed Dec. 12.

“Grand Banks has built a strong reputation as a reliable boatbuilder, and providing top-quality service and support to our customers is especially crucial when selling luxury motoryachts,” CEO Mark Richards stated in a press release. “The acquisition of 458 SW Salerno Road will further strengthen the group’s image and branding as a premier luxury yacht builder, build a strong foundation for us to enhance our services and generate new revenue streams, which in turn adds long-term value for shareholders.”

What boat brands does Grand Banks build? In addition to the Grand Banks line, the company also builds Eastbay and Palm Beach brands in Malaysia.

Where to learn more: visit www.grandbanks.com

The post Grand Banks Is Expanding appeared first on Yachting.

It’s been almost two decades since the phrase “quality time remaining” became our mantra. To us, QTR doesn’t mean we will live to be 100 years old, rather it reminds us how much time we have left to do the things we love to do. It’s our reminder to live each day as though it’s our last.

My husband, Bob, and I met through boating many years ago in San Diego. He was a former naval aviator, a longtime boater and a commercial airline captain at the time. I was working in the marine industry selling advertising into national boating publications and sailing and racing as crew on other people’s boats.

One of the first things we did after we got married was join the San Diego Yacht Club and partner with friends in the ownership of Sunshine, a 1985 Brewer 42-foot pilothouse cutter. We loved that boat. Swinging on the hook was our favorite thing, and being on board was our happy place.

We sailed Sunshine along the Southern California coastline to Catalina Island, the Channel Islands and parts of Mexico, and did a lot of bareboat chartering. We chartered in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Tahiti, Greece, Croatia and Sardinia, and we made three trips to the Pacific Northwest. Friends always joined us on these trips—which made the charter surprisingly inexpensive—and we all enjoyed our amazing adventures. Discovering a new place by boat has always been our favorite vacation.

Our first bareboat charter in the PNW was in 2005 on a Grand Banks 36, where we joined the annual Mother Goose Cruise to Alaska, led by NW Explorations in Bellingham,Washington. Because we were both still working and had limited time, we went only as far north as Desolation Sound, the largest marine park in British Columbia. That was enough for us to fall in love with the area and to whet our appetite for what was to come. They say that you can cruise the waters of the PNW your whole life and never see it all, and we believe it. The seed was planted, and we knew we wanted more.

We did two more bareboat charters in the PNW—one on a sailboat in 2013 and another on a Grand Banks 42 in 2016. By 2016, we were both retired, and it was on that cruise that we made the decision to sell our partnership in Sunshine and buy a powerboat for cruising the PNW. Although we are sailors at heart, we both agreed that a Grand Banks would be the perfect boat for us. Not only is it a lot less work than sailing for folks our age, it’s also more practical in the PNW, where the wind is sporadic, at best. You can stay comfortable, warm and dry, all the while taking in the amazing views.

In December 2016, we fulfilled our dream by buying a 1990 Grand Banks 46 Classic in Seattle. We named it Grand QTR, and it has indeed been that. We have been having the time of our lives.

We found a slip in Sidney, British Columbia, a charming little town that has everything we need just 17 miles north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. From San Diego, we can take an early-morning flight up through Seattle, into Victoria, and be on board Grand QTR by lunchtime. It’s the ideal location, with easy access to both the Canadian Gulf Islands and the US San Juan Islands. Beautiful views of Mount Baker are visible from Sidney. There are so many great harbors from which to choose, and all are so close by. Bob loves the challenge of navigating the waters and continually checking the tides, currents and weather, while I am always on “log watch” (and whale watch) when underway.

Our first two seasons on board were spent exploring our new backyard, with friends and family joining throughout the summer. By then we had two grandsons (we now have three), and we’ve found that there’s nothing more fun than sharing this incredible experience with family. We all love Grand QTR. Handrails and walk-around room outside the entire boat keep it safe for grandkids and grandparents alike, while the spacious main salon provides 360-degree views and plenty of room for entertaining.

During our first season, the highlight was a trip to Chatterbox Falls, where we cruised 50 miles up the gorgeous fjords of Jervis Inlet, through the Malibu Rapids at slack tide, and into Princess Louisa Inlet—a trip that had been on our bucket list since our first cruise to the area. It is one of the most amazing places on Earth. There’s no cellphone service or Wi-Fi, only the pristine beauty of Mother Nature at her finest. It’s one of many places in these waters that can be accessed only by boat or seaplane. For us, just being there was a spiritual experience.

The highlight of our PNW cruising seasons was our summer cruising in 2019, when we buddy-boated up the Inside Passage to Glacier Bay, Alaska, with our Sidney slip mates. They were on their beautiful 2014 Kadey-Krogen 44, Mana Kai. Traveling with them made for a safe and fantastic journey. It was the trip of a lifetime for us, during which we traveled 3,200 nautical miles over five months. The cruising grounds are pristine, breathtaking and nothing short of spectacular. The farther north you go, the more beautiful it is and the more wildlife you encounter. Seeing orcas, humpbacks, porpoises, otters, eagles, ravens, herons and bears is always a thrill. The Misty Fjords—like Glacier Bay National Park—was another spiritual place we will never forget.

When COVID-19 prevented us from getting into Canada in 2020 and 2021, we had NW Explorations deliver our boat to Bellingham and spent both of those summers cruising Washington state. We rendezvoused with Mana Kai and Water Dog, another Kadey-Krogen couple (and their two dogs) we met during our 2019 cruise to Alaska. Cruising with them, we had two fantastic, COVID-safe Dungeness-crab-filled summers. Stunning views of Mount Rainier are a highlight of cruising in south Puget Sound, and visiting with friends and family who live there make it even better. The diversity of the island hiking—along with a few online yoga classes—helped keep us in shape while cruising. We’re looking forward to getting back to British Columbia this summer for season six. There’s lots more to explore.

As long as it’s still fun, and as long as we’re in good health, we hope to continue living this dream. Not only is Grand QTR our happy place, but it’s also become our safe place. And with no TV on board, it’s a real escape for us. Floating someplace beautiful with people you love—that is QTR.

For more details about Grand QTR’s cruising adventures, visit grandqtr.com.

The post A Cruising Dream Fulfilled appeared first on Yachting.

Grand Banks Yachts says the Grand Banks 54 will make its European debut this fall at the Cannes Yachting Festival in France.

The Grand Banks 54 has a new, semi-displacement hull that’s powered by a pair of 725-horsepower Volvo Penta D11s. The builder says that the yacht’s range exceeds 1,200 nautical miles at 10 knots. Top speed is 25 knots.

“The new Grand Banks 54 is an incredibly versatile platform, with quality and performance second to none,” Mark Richards, CEO of Grand Banks, stated in a press release. “It encapsulates our commitment to building the ultimate yachts on the water today, and with our focus on fuel efficiency and sustainability, I think it will come to define what is expected of yachting in the years to come.”

Construction is composite with a fully infused fiberglass hull, and infused carbon-fiber decks and superstructure.

“We’ve moved to infused carbon fiber from the deck up, using the highest-quality vinylester resin available to ensure the durability of our yachts,” he added.

Hull No. 1 of the GB54 has a two-stateroom, galley-down layout (the standard configuration). Owners also can choose a galley-up version that opens up space for a third stateroom belowdecks.

How much fuel does the GB54 burn at its 25-knot cruising speed? 57 gallons per hour, according to Grand Banks Yachts.

Take the next step: go to grandbanks.com

The post Grand Banks 54 is Headed to Cannes appeared first on Yachting.

Grand Banks Yachts says it has completed the initial sea trial and finalized interiors for its new flagship model, the Grand Banks 85.

“First, we focused on what makes a superior long-distance cruiser while underway for long legs,” CEO Mark Richards stated in a press release. “This means understanding the rhythm that occurs while on passage, and creating various spaces where you can separate from others off-watch. Some people on board are focused on running the boat, others are relaxing, and others may be sleeping.”

Hull No. 1 of the Grand Banks 85 is being built as a Skylounge version, but an Open Bridge configuration is also available. The Open Bridge has a lower helm area forward, while the Skylounge has the galley far forward, just abaft the windshield with open views.

The Skylounge also has, well, a sky lounge for lounging, separate from the main salon on the main deck. The helm area is elevated with seating for four people. There are lowering windows and an opening sunroof for fresh breezes.

Belowdecks are accommodations for guests as well as crew—and Grand Banks is offering two layouts of the crew quarters in an attempt to become “the envy of the industry” for a yacht of the 85′s size.

What kind of range is the Grand Banks 85 expected to have? Richards says the target is 900 to 1,000 nautical miles at 21 knots.

Take a virtual tour of the Grand Banks 85 »

The post Interiors Finalized for the Grand Banks 85 appeared first on Yachting.

Some yachts put up a thin veneer of seakeeping confidence, stout construction materials and quality machinery. Those yachts are the opposite of the Grand Banks 54.

On this boat, where I might expect to find a facade, I instead encountered the real deal. Solid-teak mullions. Solid-teak soles. Watertight engine-room bulkheads. An air-conditioning system that doesn’t merely circulate cool air but instead creates a potent breeze. Magnetic catches so strong, they’ll never let the doors fly open in a seaway.

Resins are all epoxy vinylester. Virtually all parts of the vessel, including the hull, are vacuum-infused to minimize weight while maximizing strength. The deckhouse and superstructure are carbon fiber, ensuring structural integrity while lowering the center of gravity. And the 54′s salon furniture is all structurally bonded and fiberglassed into place, eliminating the creaks and groans that bolted-in furniture inevitably make when lesser yachts are subjected to serious seas.

Everything I saw walking through the Grand Banks 54 illustrates actual strength and serious intelligence in construction.

The 54 is the kind of yacht that begs for a ride in the rough stuff, but unfortunately, I didn’t have challenging conditions when I ran it. My time aboard was on a relatively calm Chesapeake Bay. There was quite a bit of boat traffic and thus plenty of wakes to run into and roll over—or so it would seem.

Between its 8-degree transom deadrise, warped semidisplacement hull form, and Humphree interceptor and stabilizer system, the 54 cut through 2-footers with virtually zero effect. Paralleling other boat wakes and taking them on the beam produced a similar absence of any response.

And—surprise—unlike the Grand Banks models of yore, the 54 can probably keep up with the sport cruisers out there on the water. Powered with twin 725 hp Volvo Penta D11 diesel inboards, the 54 broke 27 knots, and that was with full loads of fuel (898 gallons) and water (290 gallons). The builder says it has seen 30-plus-knots with a lighter load. Cruising at 1,800 rpm, the yacht made 18.7 knots and maintained 0.5 nmpg. Even though this hull can get up and go, it’s still efficient at displacement speeds. Idle at 600 rpm to take a 5.2-knot cruise for a range of 2,604 miles. That means owners could make a 12-day trip from Kennebunkport, Maine, to Key West, Florida, and arrive with enough fuel to putter around for another 1,000 nautical miles or so.

For owners who want to go a bit faster and run even more efficiently, Grand Banks says the 54 can be powered with Volvo Penta’s IPS950s, though the builder says the straight-shaft version runs smoother. For many long-distance cruisers, a smooth cruise is a big perk. This boat is not only comfortable but also surprisingly quiet; the engine room is insulated with 2 inches of Sorberbarrier AGC soundproofing. Sitting at the helm at all speeds, I found vibration and sound levels far below what I expected.

On a yacht of this nature, of course, I do expect to enjoy a comfortable cruise whether I’m watching the wheel from the double-wide helm seat, lunching at the L-shaped six-seat dinette, stretching out on the starboard-side settee, or digging my toes into the sisal carpet. This comfort level is also found on the flybridge. The forward half the 54′s flybridge has Stidd helm and companion seats, a dinette, and a wet bar. (The after half is dedicated to a davit and tender.) I looked closely at the beefy stainless-steel frame around the entry and noticed that every screwhead in the frame was aligned in the exact same orientation.

Veneers? Facades? Those are nice-looking but are superficial ornaments. I can find those things on plenty of yachts, but they would be anathema aboard the Grand Banks 54. This yacht is the real deal, through and through.

Walking the Walk

The nicest thing about walking from bow to stern on the Grand Banks 54 is how safe I felt. Not only are the side decks ringed with stout rails, but they’re so wide that I could stand sideways with size 12 shoes and still have 2 inches of wiggle room left over.

Function and Form

The engines aboard the Grand Banks 54 are farther forward than on many yachts, to keep the weight centered and balanced. As a result, there’s an open area between the powerplants and machinery space. Stainless-steel rails line the compartment, so owners can use the area for bulk stowage while the hydraulics and steering gear remain protected. For easy access to the machinery, Grand Banks mounts the rails on quick-release pins.

Owner’s Choice

To provide owners with customization options, Grand Banks offers the 54 in galley-up and galley-down arrangements. In the galley-up version, there are three staterooms belowdecks, with the master forward and guest staterooms to port and starboard. With the galley-down version, there are two en suite staterooms, both with queen-size berths.

Take the next step: grandbanks.com

The post Reviewed: Grand Banks 54 appeared first on Yachting.

The grand banks 59 aleutian rp was the result of a design ­collaboration between the builder and naval-architecture firm Sparkman & Stephens. The 59’s mission was to maintain a traditional Grand Banks trawler aesthetic but offer higher performance.

Hull design is a modified-V shape with prop pockets and a skeg keel. Top speed: about 25 knots.

Construction for the hull is solid fiberglass, while the superstructure has Airex foam coring.

At press time, we found nine Grand Banks 59 Aleutian RPs on the market, ranging from $1.2 million to $1.9 million.

From the Archive

“The 59 is actually a ­25-plus-knot yacht, with two hearty 1,000 hp Caterpillar C18s tucked under the hood. Standard power is a pair of C9s (900 hp). If you want to motor along at 8 knots, you’ll have long legs and good fuel economy. But if something large and red appears on your weather scope, you have the speed to outrun it. Underway, the 59 is ­well-­behaved and predictable.” —Yachting, October 2007

The post Brokerage: Grand Banks Aleutian 59 RP appeared first on Yachting.

When Grand Banks revamped its lineup with the Grand Banks 60 last year, the company made quite a splash. The yacht, with its all-carbon superstructure and speedy top end and cruise speeds was something unlike the world had seen from Grand Banks. And now the builder has expanded the line, with a 60 Skylounge model that allows yachtsmen to more easily cruise waters of all climates.

Adding an enclosed bridge to a yacht can sometimes change the boat’s aesthetics in a not-so-pleasing way. But this is far from the case with the 60 Skylounge. As Grand Banks CEO Mark Richards explained, “The proportions of the design are very important to us. We’re not in the business of designing ugly boats so we spent a lot of time ensuring the Skylounge looks like it belongs on the 60.”

To my eye, they succeeded in doing so. The 60’s lines have that classic Grand Banks appeal, while also managing to retain a certain amount of sleekness. What’s more, that added interior space on the flybridge level makes the boat that much more usable. Twin Stidd helm seats highlight the captain’s station, while large windows offer near 360-degree views to everyone on the deck. There’s also an L-shaped settee aft and to port and a dayhead aft and to starboard, for extra convenience. A standard Steelhead davit aft of that raises and lowers a RIB.

The entire flybridge deck is built using carbon fiber, which allows the boat to have a low center of gravity for better seakeeping while also increasing the yacht’s speed and fuel efficiency. The 60 Skylounge comes standard with twin 800 hp Volvo D13 diesels that are projected to offer a brisk 31-knot top end as well as a 25-knot fast-cruise speed at 2020 rpm. If the captain chooses to throttle down to 10 knots, a range of 2,000 nautical miles is achievable — enough to get the boat from Florida to Canada on a single tank. Optional 900 hp Volvo Penta IPS1200s will also be available.

The yacht’s hull is strake- and tunnel free, and has a fine entry that flattens out to a mere six degrees of deadrise at the transom. She also draws just 4 feet, 7 inches with her standard engines and 3 feet, 3 inches with the IPS option, making her a smart choice for skinny-water cruising. The hull design is Richards own, and has roots in his extensive sailing background.

The Grand Banks 60 Skylounge will be available in the summer of 2018, and is currently under build at the company’s impressive yard in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Once she launches. She should command as much attention as her open-bridged sistership. Albeit with a package that makes her that much more versatile. Take the next step: grandbanks.com.

Asking Price: Upon Request

Specs:

LOA: 65’4″ (19.9m)

LOD: 60′ (18.3m)

BEAM: 19’2″ (5.85m)

DRAFT: 3’3″ w/IPS option (1m)

DRAFT: 4’7″ with standard straight shafts (1.4m)

DISPL.: 61,370 lbs. (28,000 kgs)

FUEL: 1,530 gal. (5,800 L)

WATER: 300 gal. (1,100 L)

HOLDING: 80 gal. (300 L)

STANDARD ENGINES: 2x 800 hp Volvo-Penta D13s w/shafts

OPTIONAL ENGINES: 2x 900 hp Volvo-Penta IPS 1200s

The post Grand Banks Announces 60 Skylounge appeared first on Yachting.