2022 Grady-White Canyon 336 review

Grady-White is a boatbuilder whose name has long been synonymous with excellence. One of the most iconic fishing boat brands in the world, Grady-White has not so much reinvented the wheel with its new Canyon 336, but has set a new benchmark that competitors will find tough to meet. 

Made in the south-eastern US state of North Carolina, Grady-White epitomises the Carolina flare design with a sharp bow that turns out impressively and provides generous wave slicing ability all the way to the stern.

Each boat is hand-laid with a grid stringer system that is then filled with foam, ensuring every Grady-White vessel is unsinkable. The Grady-White Canyon 336 was built with serious offshore enthusiasts in mind.

Overview

If you fall into the fishing fan category and you have not heard of Grady-White boats, then perhaps you have been sleeping underneath your tinny for too long.

Grady-White has arguably one of the best names in fishing boats worldwide. They set the benchmark for design and build quality. As a result, when it comes to US medium format fishing boats, the Grady-White name is often at the top of the list. 

The Grady-White Canyon 336 is designed and billed as the perfect 10-metre fishing boat. Excellent for the sports fishing family, the Canyon 336 has ample seating, a well-designed fishing platform and all the bells and whistles which exceed any expectation of luxury for a fishing boat.

The portrayal rings true in my opinion. The Canyon 336 sits at the upper end of the Grady-White range, which tops out at the 13.7-metre mark.

Step aboard the Grady-White Canyon 336 and you immediately sense its robustness. The hull feels solid and safe. Built tough, the Canyon 336 is designed to perform in all conditions. The hull slices through open ocean swell with ease and exhibits excellent stability at rest.

Our test boat was provided by Short Marine in Sydney. The test vessel belongs personally to one of Short Marine’s long time customers, Stuart, who stepped up from smaller boats.

The Canyon 336, which Stuart co-owns with a friend, is his second Grady-White. With older kids and a desire to fish offshore and relax in style, the decision to jointly own the boat was a no brainer. 

Family boat time is spent relaxing in Port Hacking which is spoiled with sandy beaches and gin coloured water.

For Stuart, the Grady-White Canyon 336's design allows the best of both worlds, providing robust performance and a great design for fishing, which doubles as an excellent space for entertaining.

Grady-White is sold by Short Marine in NSW, and now in Queensland. The boats are built in North Carolina and brought over for fit-out in Australia. Grady-White vessels are made in such a way that owners can pick and choose their final set-up. 

The Grady-White Canyon 336 is a centre console design with a large bow area and ample space at the transom. The design of the bow is not open, but rather has two ‘V’ style seats running either side of the hull to the nose.

Standard fold-out backrests give this space almost a bowrider feel with forward-facing seating. It is both in this aspect and in the finish that I can understand the broader family appeal of the Canyon 336. 

Prices start at a shade under $500,000 with twin 300hp Yamaha outboard engines. These offer adequate performance but cannot compete with the twin 425hp Yamaha outboard engines equipped with Yamaha's HelmMaster EX joystick control system fitted to our test boat.

The joystick system adds a new dimension to docking and close-quarter manoeuvring, yet at times I found it lacked some directionality and responsiveness, with the Canyon 336 not moving in sync with the joystick.

This issue can be solved with the addition of an optional bow thruster. That is a $10,513 option and offers even more convenience to the docking experience. To be honest, on a 10.0-metre boat, most owners would probably do away with it if the joystick was fitted.

Stuart and the co-owner have added many optional extras to make their Grady-White Canyon 336 more comfortable and convenient. The bow casting platform cushion infill is a great addition, turning the bow area into a large sun pad. They also had the optional bow table added at a cost of $468.

For convenience, the guys opted for a generator priced at $29,160, which powers a few optional onboard electronics and a SeaKeeper gyroscope fitted to offer more stability offshore. We didn’t get to use it on the test day but it is priced at $63,705. 

Elsewhere, they have added a sound system upgrade valued at $3410, and with a massive subwoofer offering plenty of punch. There is a microwave down below ($1077), a water heater ($1647) and underwater lights ($3622). They have even added an electric sunshade that comes out from the rear edge of the newly designed T-top ($13,382) that covers the entire cockpit when extended.

On the fishing front, there was not a lot to add apart from outriggers with a crank handle underneath the T-top, costing $6577. Wing curtains were also added on to keep any spray away from the helm area ($2744). As tested the entire package comes in at $790,000.

The hull on the Grady-White Canyon 336 is a supreme design. A traditional hand-laid hull, it feels weighty, and as a result, the boat feels incredibly stable in the water. Unsinkable and self-draining, they call it the SeaV2, built using a continuous variable deadrise. 

This variable deadrise is an important factor in the brilliant ride that the Grady-White Canyon 336 delivers. The bow is extremely sharp, around 50 degrees. From here it slowly starts flattening out yet remains at 30-35 degrees amidships.

That gives it incredible wave slicing ability with a shape in the middle of the hull that lands softly in all conditions. Stability at rest is not compromised with a 20-degree deadrise at the transom and wide chines.

The steep angle is not the only crucial influence. Strakes and chines have been added strategically to provide lift while the Carolina flare pushes water down and away from the boat. 

The interior design of the Grady-White Canyon 336 is not opulent but rather maximises efficiency. Using a tried and tested design, the 336 Canyon has ample space behind the helm for fishing, a console in the centre and bow seating and open space at the front. The execution is first class with space where you need it. 

The space behind the console is generous and you are close to the prep station/wet bar which can accommodate a cooler box, and either one very deep 170-litre live well or two smaller live wells. There is also storage, a cutting board and freshwater washdown conveniently located.

The gunnels feature a padded coaming that runs around the entire boat. From here you could stand up and fight gamefish while the captain keeps his eye on the line and angles and can respond quickly.

At the transom is a flip-out bench seat, the design of which I have not seen before. It is easy to deploy and move out of the way to access underfloor storage and the generator.

Live bait supplies will never be a worry with ample space also located in the cockpit with a monster 275-litre tank moulded into the transom. It can even be turned into a fridge/freezer combo. Once you are done, simply wash your rods with the freshwater washdown in the rear port side.

Adjacent, the hull side door is a standard offering with convenient access back into the boat or easily allows the haul of a large fish aboard – as Stuart discovered while trying to get a large yellowfin tuna aboard.

The model tested features Grady-White's newly designed console. It is larger and can accommodate new larger screens such as the 16-inch Garmin units.

The Yamaha digital readout is located to the right, and an impressive switch panel looks over the entire dash. This is a higher console design that left me feeling like I needed to stand on my toes to see over the top at times. A small step would be perfect here.

In calm conditions, I could prop myself up against the bolster and use the step for driving seated. I doubt in rough conditions that I could manage to stay perched there for too long.

Overhead, the redesigned T-top marries up with the curved glass windscreen to offer good protection for the driver and two companions. Airflow is ample but if you need more, you can electronically open the vent at the front of the console.

The entire unit is well integrated into the hull and the angles and finish suggest it is not merely an afterthought. This top was also designed to accommodate the electronic awning that extends from the rear of the top of the roof.

Often on console boats such as the Grady-White Canyon 336, the cabin space is merely used for storage and therefore of limited value. For the Grady-White Canyon 336, the design uses a sunken floor offering impressive rod storage and enough headroom and space for an entire basketball team.

This is a fully functional room with a toilet, sink and bed that converts into a seat. On the rear wall, there is a microwave, switch panel and space below for the SeaKeeper in a floor-height storage compartment. 

The bow area features seats running lengthways to the bow. They have backrests that swing out from the hull for comfort. This entire area converts to a casting platform and sun pad.

What you cannot do here is brace against the gunnel – the design does not allow it, making it a compromise for convenience. Fishing from the bow will take every muscle you have to stay upright when the going gets rough.

The Grady-White Canyon 336 is nothing but a pleasure to drive. From the moment you step aboard, you feel utterly secure. The boat emanates a welcoming vibration. Step behind the helm and it is more of the same.

The only issue I had is the slight bow lift when you put the hammers down. It is not excessive, but the view ahead is slightly impaired for a second or two. I am not that tall though.

The boat does come to speed quickly with a thrill that not many 10-metre boats can deliver. Once on the plane, and trimmed, the Grady-White Canyon 336 eats up anything in its path. It does not plough through oncoming seas, it slices through them with precision.

During a turn, the boat beds in sweetly and offers a comfortable angle for all onboard. It does not roll over on its side and grips impressively mid-turn. 

Given the offshore pedigree of the Grady-White Canyon 336, it is little surprise that the hull performs as advertised. Pushing spray down and away from the boat, in a following sea, it never wanders and again keeps spray to a minimum. I truly never felt like we were about to slap or bang, so sweet is the ride.

You do not build a reputation like Grady-White with no proof in the pudding. There is a reason people like Stuart keep coming back for more. The design and execution are leading class. The ride, something to behold in all conditions.

With the latest updates to the Canyon 336, Grady-White has widened the appeal, and in some cases the gap, over other manufacturers. This is a boat for the genuine fishing nut who wants to fish with the best.

Specifications
Model: Grady-White Canyon 336
Length overall: 10.21m
Beam: 3.53m
Draft: 0.66m
Deadrise: Continuous variable bow 50degs, mid 30-35degs, transom 20degs
Weight: 4581kg (hull only)
Power: 600hp (min)/900hp (max)
Engine as tested: 2 x 425hp Yamaha four-stroke 
Fuel: 1367L
Water: 144L
Holding tank: 10L

Priced from: Prices start at just under $500,000 with twin Yamaha 300hp outboards 

Price as tested: About $790,000 with twin 425hp Yamaha outboards, hydraulic steering, Yamaha HelmMaster EX joystick control, bow thruster, bow casting platform cushion infill, bow table, generator priced at ($29,160), SeaKeeper ($63,705), sound system upgrade ($3410), microwave ($1077), water heater ($1647), underwater lights ($3622), electric sunshade ($13,382), outriggers with a crank handle ($6577), and wing curtains ($2744).

Supplied by: Short Marine

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