Grand Banks 60 Review

OVERVIEW
Since the first Grand Banks 36 Spray was launched by American Marine in 1963, the famous boat brand has enjoyed long-term success with a variety of traditionally-styled cruisers, often given the moniker of passagemaker.

Slow, sea kindly and economical, Grand Banks were built to a very high standard and provided thousands of owners and their families and friends with the joys of traditional boating.

Despite an overhaul by the Raymond Hunt design team in the 1990s, it seemed a perfect opportunity with the new company merger to revitalise everything from the keel up. And quite a stunning revision it is, too.

With the advent of more exact and immediate weather forecasting, CAD-designed performance hulls and highly efficient turbocharged electronically-managed engines, vessels are no longer likely to be trapped at 9 knots at the mercy of the weather, plodding along in a form of ‘lock-down mode’. Never a pleasant trip, even for the saltiest sea dog, let me tell you.

Drawing on his experience gleaned from high-technology racing yachts in both construction materials and hull design, the new GB 60 launched at the 2017 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is a fast, modern cruising platform which allows a clever skipper to outrun weather rather than to plough through it.

That is not to say she won’t make a good passage in tough times — the hull has been tested and complies or exceeds CE Category A rating for extended passages in winds of 40 knots and seas to 13 feet (four metres).

But the new Grand Banks 60 is like nothing before it. Carbon-fibre construction has shaved the weight to a minimum and the fast hull slices through choppy seas in the same way the newest skiff-style maxi yachts deal with weather.

Traditionalists may howl in the same way yachtsmen carry on about canting keels or foils, however, given the instantaneous weather reporting now available, most astute cruising owners will not get caught in unpleasant situations these days.

Visually, at first glance, she does look like a Grand Banks… perhaps one which has spent a few effective months at Jenny Craig.

Sleek rounded lines and traditional elements give a superb blend of the old and new. The lithe hull looks like a derivation of the Palm Beach 65 to my eye and, we're told, close sources tell me, she not altogether dissimilar.

The absence of fiddly teak trims and cap-rails will cause many to heave a huge sigh of relief, particularly with labour rates for varnish work often over $100 per hour.

In fact, the sleek and seamless finishes make this vessel so very easy to wash and chamois down, literally a swish around and she is in Bristol condition, that her appeal is magnified for modern-day boat buyers.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
With a price tag of about $4.5 million, depending on equipment, you would expect a lot for your money. And you are unlikely to be disappointed.

Twin Volvo D11 725hp diesels are fitted with the Seatorque oil-filled drive system as standard, with bow and stern thrusters and the Twin Disc control system.

Volvo’s IPS drive is available and, for those not content with a 36-knot top speed, one can opt up to 1000hp per side if desired.

A Fischer Panda 25w inverter generator is fitted, along with air-conditioning, electric side and rear saloon windows, a comprehensive galley spec of high-quality appliances.

There are three cabins with luxurious bunk options, washer dryer, entertainment systems, Stidd helm seats and, well, on it goes.

In fact, she is so well equipped as standard that the options’ page is short compared with some competitor’s offerings.

Other than the enclosed bridge, aft cabin or navigation extras, the GB60 is a very well equipped standard vessel with top quality equipment.

There are various accommodation options available, generally, with either four bunks or a queen-sized island bed in the bow (with en suite) as a guest cabin, a master cabin to port with a king-size island bed and private en suite, plus a third guest cabin with twin singles.

The saloon can be configured with the galley forward or aft, plus the rather nice optional aft cabin layout giving a grand full-beam aft suite with the cockpit deck above. This is very much to my taste.

The open flying bridge with hardtop is also a particularly splendid area, the huge table and L-shaped seating swallowing guests in complete comfort, while a full galley bench and sink will have the food and drinks flowing in a pyroclastic storm of hospitality.
Another option, aimed at the long-range passagemaker skipper used to non-stop voyages, is the enclosed sky lounge which provides navigation crew with a ‘lights out’ weatherproof station, while guests below enjoy television and other entertainment underway.

Personally, I would be rather excited to see an aft cabin, sky-lounge GB60 model ordered as it would have to be a real winner with long-range cruising folk looking for something less clunky than what the market offers today.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
Carbon fibre are words ‘du jour’, but they hold great weight, removing over five tonnes from the displacement of this boat in GRP form, and greatly improving strength and stiffness.

The hull form is warped plane or variable deadride, running from a sharp entry quickly flattening off to give a very low deadrise aft, with a small keel. She is a modern motoryacht with a highly efficient rather than plodding hull.

The Volvo installation and general engineering details are first class, as expected, with the list of detailed equipment far too long to list in this review.

Years of experience by GB (and Mark Richards at Palm Beach) brings a wealth of knowledge to the table and there are many engineering, layout and design possibilities.

The Fischer Panda generator is as quiet as a water pump and one would hardly be aware that it is operating. The main engines benefit from custom designed water/gas separators for the main exhaust systems and she is a remarkably smooth boat at all speeds.

Fuel and water systems display the usual attention to detail, as does the refrigeration and air-conditioning installations, anchor and deck hardware and the shore power arrangements.

Laid teak decks, cockpit table and sofa plus a very comfortable swimming platform are beautifully finished for sophisticated entertaining.

ON THE WATER
I'm familiar with the big Palm Beach boats, which this GB60 reminded me of once underway, and I thrilled that this new Grand Banks ran with similar slinky and surefooted performance.

Unlike older designs which struggle over the ‘hump’ and onto the plane, the GB60 runs level at all times, effortlessly gliding to increased speeds, with a superbly flat wake. It is a marvel to enjoy.

Visibility is superb from both helm stations, but the lower station is, with the doors and windows closed, like a cocooned airliner cockpit, the panoramic windows giving a spectacular view of the ocean wafting past at 30 knots.

No bumps, crashes or sudden lurches, she just tracks along like a spear, slicing and speeding on her way. In this regard, the GB60 ushers in a new class of Grand Banks.

What happens in very big seas, off the plane and without fin stabilisers, may be another matter, and perhaps the heavy and powerful hull of the old Aleutian model may outclass this boat in those conditions. However, one would presume that this vessel would have spirited itself ahead at a 27-knot cruise, slid into a quiet harbour and left the slow boat to stay with the approaching weather.

Richards claims they are quite amazing in rough conditions and we are happy to take his word for it.

The Volvos are smooth and quiet, particularly with the special exhaust system. Fuel consumption is a parsimonious 29lt/hr at 10 knots with a 2000-mile range. Arc things up a bit and 15 knots sees a combined fuel usage of 86lt/hr with 1012 miles.

A 25-knot cruise sees 228lt/hr with 636 miles and a very fast dash at 31 knots gives a combined fuel burn of 330lt/hr and 536 miles. Expect particularly economical cruising at about 21 knots — a first-class passage by any means.

VERDICT
The GB60 is certainly a radical change for the Grand Banks brand and, like many of the technological changes we have all embraced in our modern world, hopefully a welcome one for their existing customer base.

Traditionalists who have ploughed the ocean for years may blanch, however, it is very hard not to be completely impressed by the swift, slinky and effortless performance that this very capable cruiser brings to the fore.

The classic yet contemporary styling links to their heritage and the superb teak interior still embodies the warmth of a traditional and luxurious lifestyle.

As the global order book begins to fill, and as a few of the aft cabin and sky lounge models hit the water, it is hard not to envision a clear and bright horizon for the Grand Banks brand. - Tony Mackay.

Specifications: Grand Banks 60
Price as tested About $4.5m as tested at time or writing (US$3.685m) ex-factory Malaysia with twin Volvo 900hp D13s, Seakeeper Gyro and various upgrades
Priced From: $4.13m at time of writing ($US3.285m)
LOA: 19.9m
LOD (waterline): 18.3m
Beam: 5.85m
Displacement: 29,000kg.
Draft: 1m with IPS, 1.4m with shaft drive
Fuel: 7000 litres
Water: 1200 litres
Black Water: 300 litres
Sleeps: 8
Standard Engines: Volvo D11 725hp
Supplied by Grand Banks Yachts
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