Grand G340 2025 Review

Rigid-hull inflatable boats – or RIBs – are becoming increasingly popular in Australia for both commercial and recreational boating applications.

A relative newcomer to the local market is Ukraine-made Grand Boats.

Headquartered on the Gold Coast, Grand Boats Australia is making a broad range of Grand’s high-quality, full-featured RIBS available locally.

Each model is quality built with Orca CSM coated (Hypalon) inflatable (and chambered) tubes in combination with a deep-vee fibreglass hull bottom.

Customers can choose from a series of tough commercial RIBs, sport and dive RIBs, as well as a range of yacht and mothership tenders which can double as mini sports boats.

Fitting that latter description perfectly is the small but capable G340 side console, paired with a trusty Yamaha 25hp four-stroke outboard.

The Grand G340 is one of a half dozen or so tender models in the Grand range and the smallest of three boats in the luxury Gold Series; the other boats being the G380 and G430.

Like its larger siblings, the G340 comes standard with a starboard-side offset helm console and stacks of interior gear and accessories.

Just about everything you can see in the attached photos is standard – including the Garmin GPSMap 7 multi-function display, SeaDek flooring, Silvertex premium upholstery, integrated bow and stern lifting eyes, and an electrical package (battery, navigation lights, bilge pump).

Paired with the standard Yamaha 25hp longshaft (20-inch) outboard engine, the Grand G340 is priced at $35,700. Add $2090 for a Swiftco single-axle unbraked trailer.

Our test boat was optioned with a side seat (not shown) and a larger, underfloor 40L fuel tank to lift the package price to $38,550 plus trailer.

The Grand G340 is a deluxe model tender/sports boat with what is best described as a side-console configuration with seating forward and behind the single-person-wide fibreglass console.

Up at the bow, between the two flotation tubes, there is a moulded fibreglass storage area/anchorwell beneath a comfy, aft-facing cushioned seat.

Inside this front locker our test boat was fitted with the fuel-filler for the optional built-in 40L fuel tank.

Further forward, right up on the pulpit, there is a SeaDek-surfaced step that’s used for disembarking from the bow to a wharf or mothership.

Other bow features include six flotation tube grab handles, davit lifting eyes, navigation lights and a pop-up front cleat.

The side console is just the right size for the G340. It is offset to starboard and relatively narrow, so there is ample space to port to move back and forth within the boat.

The console/helm station comes with a sports steering wheel, starboard-side throttle lever, a short, tinted windshield, overhead grab-rail, cup holder, and a storage compartment behind a Sopac hatch.

There’s also space on the dash/fascia for the included Garmin GPSMap 7 display, though it will also fit the optional, larger Garmin GPSMap 9 multi-function display.

Fronting the helm station is a full-width moulded fibreglass bench seat/storage compartment.

This two-person-wide, cushioned aft bench seat and comfy backrest is upholstered using a high-quality Silvertex vinyl material and is embossed with the Grand Boats logo.

Beneath the rear bench seat there is a sizeable storage space, along with access to the steering gear, fuel lines, bilge pump, etc.

The G340 has a formed, fibreglass outboard splash well behind the aft seat backrest, along with an included ski pole, pop-up cleats, lifting eyes, tube-mounted handrails, and fibreglass tube step-ends for boarding from a beach or boat ramp.

The Grand G340 accepts a single longshaft (20-inch) outboard between 25hp and 40hp.

The larger-size motor would be ideal for heavy loads and carrying three or four people. However, the extra power of a 40hp motor will be countered by the extra weight on the transom, as compared to a smaller power engine.

As tested, with a Yamaha 25hp motor – which I would consider the minimum for this boat – the G340 is zippy with one or two people onboard once you are up and running, but it is not super quick to plane.

In light of this, best power would arguably be a middle-of-the-road 30hp engine (unless of course the 30hp motor weighs the same as a 40hp).

Once the little G340 is up and running on plane there is ample performance on offer with the Yamaha 25hp engine.

The Yamaha responds nicely through the mid-range and the top speed of 24.1 knots (44.6km/h) is more than acceptable for a little boat with two adults onboard.

With just myself onboard I was able to extract a bit more speed, the boat topping out at 26.6 knots (49.2km/h).

Underway the Grand G340 is agile, responsive and fun to drive. You can dive into a tight turn and the fibreglass hull handles nicely, carving high-speed manoeuvres easily.

Throughout our performance testing, the G340 also proved to be smooth riding and wonderfully stable.

Range on 95% of the optional 40L fuel supply at 4000rpm: 97.7nm

The Grand G340 is a fun little sports boat and an excellent super yacht tender.

Design features like the fibreglass tube step-ends and the flat step up on the bow (both surfaced in grippy SeaDek foam rubber) make the G340 a pleasure to use as a tender as it is easy to climb aboard the boat and to get back off it again.

The Grand G340 is also well made and appointed; the boat has ample seating, storage and convenience features, along with a terrific fibreglass hull.

Model: Grand G340
Length overall: 3.25m
Beam: 1.75m
Deadrise: 17 degrees
Hull weight: 146kg
Tube material: Hypalon (Orca CSM by Pennel & Flipo)
Loading capacity: 480kg
Maximum power: 40hp (longshaft 20-inch)
Maximum engine weight: 105kg
Engine as tested: Yamaha 25hp four-stroke
Fuel: 25L (40L underfloor optional)
Passengers: 4
Price from: $35,700 including a Yamaha 25hp longshaft (20-inch) four-stroke outboard with mechanical steering, a Garmin GPSMap 7 multi-function display, electrical package (battery, navigation lights, bilge pump), centre console helm station, SeaDek flooring throughout, Silvertex premium upholstery and more. Add $2090 for a single-axle unbraked trailer.
Price as tested: $38,550. As above but with a side seat and the optional 40L sub-floor fuel tank. Add $2090 for the trailer.
Supplied by: Grand Boats