2007 Grady-White Journey 258

Such was the state of the sea, we didn't need to venture much beyond Sydney Heads to nail this boat test. Fortunately, while the fishing intent is obvious on the Grady-White Journey 258, there are plenty of cruising comforts to satisfy the recreational boater and his or her family.

Indeed, I got the impression that this Grady-White walkaround isn't a boat that you drive headlong into the rough stuff and hang on with white knuckles, but something you might cruise in while seated at a comfortable low 20 knots. Gentlemanly, refined and well suited to those of us who have outgrown the centre-console stage.

Meantime, you might have seen Grady-Whites on our waterways before, since the badge has made a showing at various times in the past. The recent good news is it's now being relaunched with much greater local representation and established dealerships on both east and west coasts.

But unlike some of its competitors, Grady-White remains a family-owned business. It was started in 1959 by Glen Grady and Don White, bought by Eddie Smith in 1968, who turned it into a serious production fibreglass boatbuilder, whereupon a steady stream of outboard engine-powered centre console and walkaround sportsfishers soon rolled out the doors.

Built from hand-laid fibreglass, Grady-White hulls feature a foam-filled stringer system and sub-cockpit grid system for stiffness; alloy-braced transoms to cope with the load of big outboard power; through-bolted hulls, decks and liners for a one-piece or monocoque structure; and closed-cell foam flotation for unsinkability (termed basic flotation on this Grady-White 258 Journey). This latter point was something I didn't have to test.

As for the so-called SeaV2 hull, it's basically a variable deadrise configuration ranging from 20 degrees, which equates to a fairly deep vee, at the transom through 30 degrees amidships to a much sharper entry.

A series of wedges, strakes and chines help provide lift and directional stability.

As every Grady-White is designed and pre-rigged from the outset for four-stroke outboards that means good holeshot or acceleration. In other words, the boats have been designed around specific powerplants, not built regardless to have a motor thrown on.

Then there is that other "small" boat essential - storage. Knowing anglers' penchant for packing a tackle shop worth of gear aboard, Grady-White provides somewhere to stow it all in its generous self-draining working cockpits.

On the Grady-White Journey 258 you can easily fish a team of four anglers.

The keel-up design, with numerous hatches built into the liner, integrated plumbing and deck mouldings, is focussed on serious fishing but, it should be said, family boating too.

The walkaround models with cabins offer an especially good spread of creature comforts.

A maxi-trailer boat that, with fuel, tips the scales to just less than the 3500kg towing limit on its aluminium trailer, the Grady-White Journey 258 is a big little boat and a little big boat.

Sporting twin 2.67-litre Yamaha Saltwater Series 150hp four-stroke outboard engines, with 25-inch extra-long shafts and spinning 19-inch stainless steel props, it's also very much the long-range boat.

Offshore ability is improved via an optional long-range fuel tank. The standard-issue 480-litre fuel tank is boosted with a secondary 155-litre tank, giving a safe operating range from the 635-litre supply and twin inline four-cylinder Yammies of, well, as far as you can fish within a weekend of home.

Another thing you might notice is the Grady-White Journey 258's super stability. Though it measures a not inconsiderable 7.57 metres long, it has a comparatively narrow 2.55m beam. So, stability is more a result of a low centre of gravity, with the fuel amidships where you want it, but also weight savings by way of resin-transfer or injection-moulded hatch lids and optional hardtop.

That hardtop is listed as an option on the Grady-White Journey 258 but it makes this boat a true all-weather offshore fishing machine.

Along with sun protection, you get weather protection from the clear curtains, plus additional rod storage in the rocket launcher, four clear-away rodholders, a mounting place for aerials and (spot)lights, a large zip-up dry lifejacket or wet-weather jacket pocket, and a pair of optional 15-foot alloy outriggers with snap-lock Taco Grand Slam bases on the test boat.

With all that gear, the Grady-White Journey 258 looks keen, if not traditional and timeless. At rest and underway, its dryness is helped by a raised sheerline and a good buoyant bow with some signature homespun Carolina flare.

Back aft, the twin-rig transom is especially supportive of the 424kg of twin four-stroke outboards.

It's so buoyant that the boat barely shifts with anglers in the cockpit and, when reversing, it lifts up nicely over the waves rather than burying.

The Grady-White Journey 258 also has a decent cabin that, although flanked by walkarounds, leans more towards providing accommodation than fish-around space.

Access is still nice, safe and supportive when heading to the bow, but it's a foot-over-foot passage.

Given the legroom, the foredeck is clearly meant for attending anchoring duties (optional windlass fitted to this boat) more than anything else. A removable padded cushion is provided to improve your comfort during fleeting visits. The pulpit was another option.

Padded bolsters (optional) trace the sizeable cockpit, there is toe-under support and a good grade of non-skid underfoot.

Besides a swim ladder and scope to mount a berley pot, there is a decent deadbait storage bin built into the transom.

A recessed battery-management panel at foot level keeps the cockpit clean, while the fold-down aft lounge caters for family outings.

The rod holder arrangement is a little different, but I can see it working well. There are two in-transom aft-facing holders and four heavy-duty holders in the broad gunwales.

Elsewhere, there are recessed heavy-duty through-bolted cleats and big-boat fittings, like the catch on the marlin door, and a powerful raw-water washdown for cleanups.

Under each coaming you also get three gaff, tagpole or rod racks, as well as the 10 carry spots around the T-top. Throw as many fishing rods aboard as you wish.

The beautiful Pompanette helm seats with folding armrests are mounted on a raised bridgedeck that improves views.

The portside of the co-pilot's seatbox harbours a livebait tank with a 128-litre capacity plumbed to a powerful 4000L/h raw water pump, while the helm seatbox is an insulated fish box with 150 litres of capacity and overboard drain.

The removable upholstered tops on the boxes let them double as impromptu seats, and grabrails are provided where you intuitively reach for them around the helm and where crew might ride on their feet back aft.

Twin wipers improve seated vision at the helm.

Mounting space for electronics exists in an overhead radio box and in a waterproof box built into the dash. Owners have different preferences, hence no fish-finding gadgetry was fitted.

Besides twin multi-function Yamaha outboard engine gauges, there are dual Yamaha throttles with separate and joint trim buttons, trim tabs, windlass and lighting switches, footrests and a serious stainless steel saltwater wheel linked to Seastar hydraulic steering.

Well vented via opening windows and the requisite escape hatch, the cabin on the Grady-White Journey 258 is big enough to stow away for the night.

The boat is also extremely well finished, inside and out, with attention to detail befitting of its price tag.

The lockup cabin is of sufficient capacity to include a vee-berth, sink, Jabsco marine head and, in this case, an optional holding tank.

There is also a sink and 40 litres of freshwater, plus rod storage by way of four standard racks and an optional four-rod rack.

However, all that would be lost had the Grady-White Journey 258 floundered or foundered in the heavy weather. On the contrary, the boat wasn't phased by the extreme conditions, which in turn provided a high degree of confidence and reassurance for everyone aboard.

The Grady-White Jo0urney 258's bow-up attitude and big flared bow kept the water at bay at an 8.0-knot trolling speed where the Yamaha four-stroke 150s were quiet and economical, consuming just 10.5L/h in total.

At 3200rpm, the boat's up and cruising at a handy heavy-weather speed of 18.4 to 20 knots, depending on wind and tide. Some out-trim on the legs and a bump of the throttles and we were skipping along at a comfortable 22 to 23 knots while the outboard engines drank 47.5L/h for a safe range of more than 270 nautical miles.

At optimum cruising revs of 4000rpm, where the motors remain pleasantly quiet, the Gready-White Journey 258 journeyed along at a speedy 26 knots, which was still tolerable. But everything above this was too fat in the big swells.

At 4500rpm back on the flat stuff I recorded 27 to 28 knots, 5000rpm produced 32 to 33 knots and 6000rpm returned a top speed of 38.5 knots.

Over the years, Grady-White has won over a loyal following and won plenty of those much-touted J.D. Power and Associates awards for customer satisfaction.

That, plus annual events for loyal owners in America, and excellent resale value, mean the boats have stood the test of time wherever and whatever they have been subject to. Our test proves that point once again.

HIGHS

LOWS