New Grand Banks 60

[Insequent]

I went on board the new Grand Banks 60 at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show earlier today. Wow!
Grand Banks – Believe It

There really is lots to like. Great attention to detail, and some clever design concepts in the layout. For example, the aft galley with window opening out of the way into the cockpit. Something the better designed sailing cats have done for a while.

There have been some that question whether Mark Richards had the vision and drive to turnaround GB's fortunes. Well, this could very well be the boat to do it, and clearly Mark's hands have been all over the design and production. Big kudos from me! Its kinda right-sized in all sorts of ways. It a boat for the times: modern look, but still a GB. Much faster than I would really want, but I'm sure its just fine at 10 kn as well.

Now I might have a dilemma were I able to afford one, because I could get very tempted by a Fleming 65, and I went aboard one of those a little later. "North West" is a boat I have seen often out on the water, both up on the Great Barrier Reef and around Moreton Bay. It's not for sale, the owners lent it to the Sydney dealer for the show. Its hull #6 and a credit to the owners - its in fabulous condition still.

 

[Capt.Bill11]

That is a very nice looking boat. Looks great cutting through the water.

I hope they do very well with it.

 

[Bruce B]

Interesting looking boat. I think that I'd have a strong Fleming bias if we shopping for a 60 plus footer today.
Of course, my wife and I have zero interest in a 60' plus boat so...
I'll get aboard one this fall at a boat show and take a look.
Bruce

 

[Mako]

You don't see a lot of aft galley designs with dining and saloon forward. What do you guys think of that?

 

[Tidahapah]

I to had a tour over the GB 60 but sorry Brian was not my cup of tea. The lay out did nothing for me as a cruiser. The finish was great. The Fleming 65 on the other hand was superb. The Nordy 52 , I could not believe how tight it was in the access ways. The Marlow 54 was an incredible amount of boat for the length, not convinces about the galley in the raised pilot house and no full sized dining table. The DeFever 55 LR ticked my boxes, sensible, 300 HP single screw displacement cruiser with good fuel tankage, 2 side decks.
Sanctuary Cove Boat Show does it again a great day out. Really like the engineering and design of the new MC2 gyro stabilisers, far less failure points and mechanical workings than the Sea Keepers.

 

[Bob Cofer]

Zero Grand Banks DNA in that boat, other than the name plate.

 

[Capt.Bill11]

Zero Grand Banks DNA in that boat, other than the name plate.

I don't think that's true at all.

Just the look, the fit and finish, the interior finish alone say GB.

 

[Capt.Bill11]

You don't see a lot of aft galley designs with dining and saloon forward. What do you guys think of that?

I've seen more of that lately. I can't say I've spent any time on a boat with that layout.

But I can see where it could be functional.

 

[Xsbank]

Bob that's so true.

Nice boat but it could be any zoomy cruiser. Poor handrails on the decks, don't like galley in the rear; Volvos? At least it doesn't throw a wake like a destroyer like the last ones did. I liked my GB32 - that shows you where I come from.

 

[hmason]

This is interesting.

Our GB 46 Europa was customized at the factory for the original owner. We have a rear galley whereas the stock boat has the galley forward. We can say from experience that it's a great design. The galley is between the cockpit and the saloon making food service to either area easy. We also have a pass through window to the cockpit. Another plus is that the chef du jour is always part of the action. Underway the galley is in a less motion susceptible part of the boat.

There is a downside though. If you like a particularly neat boat when guests arrive you need to keep the galley neat as it is the first area they walk into. When we lived in a house, everyone congregated in the kitchen---kinda the same here.

 

[BrisHamish]

I am heading to the Sanctuary Cove show on Saturday, and will have a look at all of the boats mentioned - GB60, the De Fever, the Marlow. I am looking forward to it.

I know the Fleming on display very well, we often go out on the bay with them. My son goes to school with the owner's son. Nigel (the owner) bought the boat in Norway, shipped it over here, and has since literally spent over $1m on repairs and upgrades. If it didn't have the hull number on it, he could now pass it off as new.

The new GB60 looks to me like the largest Palm Beach with a GB nameplate stuck on the side and a better designed flybridge. I am sure it will be an awesome boat, it's just that it is a Palm Beach dressed up. (Yes, it will be very hard for the new GB people to persuade die hard solid GRP hull GB owners into a shallow draft cored hull boat with Volvo IPS pods - but then, maybe that isn't their target market anyway).

H.

 

[Lou_tribal]

You don't see a lot of aft galley designs with dining and saloon forward. What do you guys think of that?

What I like is that it puts the galley near aft deck so you don't have to go through the whole boat to eat outside. On the other end if one needs to cook while underway you are each one at one side of the boat. pro and cons. I tend to like galleys near pilot house/helm but it is personal.

L.

 

[ancora]

VOLVOs? What were they thinkin'?

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

apparently they wand the POD drives....WTF

 

[Bigsfish]

I have been thinking of this boat for about a year when I saw the first drawings. Not having a stand up engine room is a 60 foot (trawler) leaves me less than enthused. My GB has the Zeus system and we know can see GBs direction away from Zeus, not sure Volvo will be any better. Looking at a Marlow at this time.

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

Real world experience counts for lots!

 

[markajh]

I went on board the new Grand Banks 60 at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show earlier today. Wow!
Grand Banks – Believe It

There really is lots to like. Great attention to detail, and some clever design concepts in the layout. For example, the aft galley with window opening out of the way into the cockpit. Something the better designed sailing cats have done for a while.

There have been some that question whether Mark Richards had the vision and drive to turnaround GB's fortunes. Well, this could very well be the boat to do it, and clearly Mark's hands have been all over the design and production. Big kudos from me! Its kinda right-sized in all sorts of ways. It a boat for the times: modern look, but still a GB. Much faster than I would really want, but I'm sure its just fine at 10 kn as well.

Now I might have a dilemma were I able to afford one, because I could get very tempted by a Fleming 65, and I went aboard one of those a little later. "North West" is a boat I have seen often out on the water, both up on the Great Barrier Reef and around Moreton Bay. It's not for sale, the owners lent it to the Sydney dealer for the show. Its hull #6 and a credit to the owners - its in fabulous condition still.

Stunning boat. Looks like they broke a lot of rules and have 21st century technology with the classic sense of GB. Sure to be a LOT of controversy about this one.

I recall my first several days on their all-wood 50' 20 years ago. What a great boat - a classic and wonderful at sea. We were in a terrible shipping lane with horrible following seas and 25 knot winds. No big deal.

I can't wait to see this at the show. The web page is a good tease. Hope they post a lot more!

 

[GFC]

I haven't had an aft galley boat but I'm not sure I'd like it. True, it makes it easy to serve food to the cockpit, but for the sous chef, everyone going in and out from the cockpit to the forward parts of the boat, they're passing right through his/her work space.


My wife would NEVER go for that.

 

[Insequent]

I haven't had an aft galley boat but I'm not sure I'd like it. True, it makes it easy to serve food to the cockpit, but for the sous chef, everyone going in and out from the cockpit to the forward parts of the boat, they're passing right through his/her work space.


My wife would NEVER go for that.

It might not be clear from the pics etc but it is not a walk-through area. The 'passage',if it is that, is to starboard of the galley, which covers about 2/3 of the saloon's beam. Once you get aboard you will see how well it will work.

The one area I didn't like was the bridge door to side-deck area. Its messy regarding floor/deck heights with a high door sill. Then the side deck covering is too low at the doorway. I did bump my head, and I'm only 6'1". The stylists won that one, and its one of the rare design disappointments. Pretty much everywhere else the efficient use of space is absolutely outstanding.

Now I would likely not have Volvo as first choice but the boat displayed had optional D13's with shaft drive, not IPS. So 2 x 900HP and 35 kn top speed - pretty amazing. 23000 kg is why. 7000l of fuel, 2000nm range at 10kn. The boat gives you options......

 

[O C Diver]

Watched the underway video. Every boat looks good on flat water. Would like to see a manufacturer with the confidence to show their boat in 3 and 5' seas. If you're going to claim you have an offshore boat, prove it.

Ted

 

[Bigsfish]

Ted

Your spot on. I waited for days to get the right weather to go for a sea trial, and will again.

 

[BrisHamish]

So I am just back from the Sanctuary Cove boat show in QLD and share my high/low/best thoughts below. Its just my opinion to share with TF members, for what it is worth. I stand to be corrected (I am often wrong).

Really high. The new GB60 is a stunning boat - absolutely the best fit and finish available to buy IMHO. And no doubt the price will reflect that, but WOW! Guys, the way that boat is put together is basically a class above. It oozes 'quality'. If it is at a boat show near you, go have a look. Once we get past the stunning aesthetics and quality fittings and appliances/hardware, the hull is the same as the Palm Beach 65 and a number of features (such as the bowsprit design and the anchor set up) are all obviously borrowed from PB. The flybridge however is not like a PB flybridge, and all the better for it. It is a new design and looks terrific. I have to say it isnt my cup of tea necessarily, but if we just looked at it through a pure engineering lens it is magnificent. I hope they sell lots of these, good luck to them. I think amongst the TF community there should always be a recognition for top quality marine engineering, I reckon, and this boat is it.

Low. The De Fever 55 LRC. I wanted to like this boat. Really. Deep keel, John Deer engine, pilothouse - it looked from a distance like it could be leading the next generation of trawlers. But - and this is just my opinion - I sadly felt it was an advertisement for cheap Chinese marine engineering. I am not against Chinese per se - see the next paragraph - but this boat had some difficult areas. It was a near new boat, but the the engine room had corrosion issues going on which raised the hairs on the back of my neck, including corrosion on the shaft itself just aft of the transmission. In the cabins bits here and there were already coming loose. My 11 year old GB46 has none of these issues by way of comparison. And the stairway from the pilothouse to the cabins below is non compliant (at least by Australian standards) and a trip hazard. As I say, I really wanted to like this boat. But it appears it is built down to a price, not up to a standard.

The Winner. I am surprised to accord my 'winner' status to (another Chinese built boat) the Marlow 53e. With QSM11s, quality American and European fittings such as Stidd helm seats, Meile appliances, twin Cummins generators, Raymarine suite, chilled water aircon, a hydraulic swim platform and good finishings, for the asking price of AUD $3.2m it is good value here in Australia. It has better fittings than Clipper/Explorer. And it is big - for a 53 - I mean it is BIG. I was surprised. Check it out.

Now I am going off to have a beer!!

H.

 

[Insequent]

Yes, that Marlow ticks a lot of boxes.

For A$1.8m I would not be buying the DeFever either. I was also disappointed in it. In addition to your points, it is 37t dry, so over 40t with fuel. This shows in performance - on the run up from Sydney it was about 1 nmpg at a bit over 8 kn. My boat is fairly similar in size and has 2 x 200HP JD's, but is only around 30t with a a large quantity of fuel. I'll almost always get 1.5 nmpg, and down at 8 kn its more likely 1.8 nmpg.

Hamish, I'm over at the Sandhills. Beer o'clock here as well!

 

[Tidahapah]

Sorry guys as a cruiser and Marine Engineer the De fever ticked the boxes for me. Full displacement, large stabiliser fins, plenty of fuel.
The stair case is not standard and the normal set up it is slightly larger and not as steep.
When you are at sea weight in the right proportions is king.
Single engine (, hydraulic anchor windlass , not grossly over powered) hydraulic bow and stern thrusters all pluses. The present owner did not want the bunk in the pilot house and that should be remedied. That for me was a boat I would go to sea in.
The GB 50 is a glorified day boat and not designed to spend time at sea.
So you see everyone has different opinions.
I did like the Marlow 54, best use of space I have seen in a boat for ages, but still semi displacement and twin engines with much HP.

 

[Bigsfish]

Thanks BH

I'm looking at the Marlow presently 53 or 58.

I hope GB improved the quality of their metal. I have a 2015 GB the Hayes pipes look like a rusted clunker car in SA. Shameful. No polish keeps them looking like SS should.

 

[Bruce B]

Thanks BH

I'm looking at the Marlow presently 53 or 58.

I hope GB improved the quality of their metal. I have a 2015 GB the Hayes pipes look like a rusted clunker car in SA. Shameful. No polish keeps them looking like SS should.

Isn't the different stainless steel quality used by manufacturers amazing?
We had an Edson steering wheel on our sailboat that could not be kept polished.
No matter what we did, it would begin rusting as soon as it saw even as little as some rain...
I finally purchased a Lewmar wheel to replace it, problem solved!
One of the first things I noticed about American Tug's was their stainless. It is simply beautiful.
Our Sabre sailboat took years of polish before we got the stainless to stop rusting. At least that finally polished up...
Bruce

 

[sunchaser]

Not having a stand up engine room is a 60 foot (trawler) leaves me less than enthused.

The GB 60 is not a trawler nor being marketed as one. Nice boat though but there is competition in this class of vessel. I like many things about the Sabres, a very proven builder in NA.

 

[Bigsfish]

Sun

The 60 was presented a year or so ago as the new trawler, in any event I want a stand up engine room. ��

Bruce

I agree. My previous boat was custom and chose Swedish SS, never ever had any rust. If I could find a guy to make new Hayes pipes out of that Swedish SS it would be a fine deal.

 

[sunchaser]

Sun

The 60 was presented a year or so ago as the new trawler, in any event I want a stand up engine room.

With twin 900 HP diesels and a 30+ knot cruising speed it is anything but a trawler. But, it is a nice boat. Competing head on and or replacing another GB non trawler - East Bay it would seem. BTW, +$3M.

 

[BandB]

It is a Palm Beach through and through, taken to it's next level. The reality is that the company is now all of the Palm Beach mindset and the argument for the acquisition of Palm Beach and the current direction of the company is that Palm Beach was having success and Grand Banks was floundering miserably. So, Grand Banks was turned over to Mark Richards to build upon the ideas of Palm Beach.

I have not been on one but think it could fill a huge marketplace void. Today's version of yesteryear's GB buyer is out there and having a hard time finding a boat. We searched and researched at great length in the 60' range. Now, in our case, we wanted something like the Aleutian 65 but with more speed. This could be it.

My one reservation would be Grand Banks now has to prove they can consistently deliver quality and they can service and support the boats they sell. New boat, new company in many ways. Also, will be interesting to see how it performs in rough seas.