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Tracking Today’s Fast-Paced Yacht Boating Market

April, 2016  (Updated Feb. 2018)

The Grand Banks brand carries a lot of weight in this business. When the country was flooded with cheap Taiwan trawlers in the 1970s and '80s, Grand Banks products continued to set the standard for quality in a trawler-style yacht. Listed below are eight classic Grand Banks trawlers from those not-so-distant days. All of these boats are out of production now but they continue to influence today’s market for quality pre-owned trawlers.

At a Glance: Perfect for the cruising couple — over 800 were built. With her classic trawler profile, solid construction, and single-stateroom teak interior, the 32 Sedan is a head-turner wherever she goes. The salon/pilothouse includes a convertible dinette and settee aft with a small galley forward to port. Large side windows provide panoramic views of the water. Below, there are V-berths in the private stateroom and a hand-held shower in the head. The flybridge seats six adults. A prominent feature of the Grand Banks 32 is the exterior brightwork — this is not a low-maintenance boat. A full-length skeg protects the underwater gear. Powered with a single Lehman diesel, the 32 Sedan will cruise at 6–7 knots with a range of nearly 500 nautical miles. Wood construction until 1973.

Price Range: From $30K to $100K+.

1965–2004

1965–95

Grand Banks 36 Classic

Grand Banks 32 Sedan

Grand-Banks-32-Sedan
Grand-Banks-36-Classic

At a Glance: The first model in the Grand Banks fleet, and over 1,200 were built during her production years. (The original GB 36 was built of Philippine mahogany until mid-1973 when the transition to fiberglass was made.) A semi-displacement hull with a long keel, hard chines and a deep forefoot provide the stability that won the 36 a reputation for seaworthiness seldom matched by other boats in her class. Several twin-stateroom interiors were offered over the years, all finished with handcrafted teak woodwork and quality workmanship, hardware and materials. Note the cockpit door in the aft stateroom. In 1987, the 36 Classic was slightly enlarged when six inches were added to the length and four inches to the beam. Most were powered by a single 120hp (or single 135hp) Lehman diesel.

Price Range: From $50K to the low $100s.

At a Glance: An iconic boat, 1,500+ were built. Efficient two stateroom interior with the galley up. Wood constructon until1973. In 1991, the hull was stretched and widened by a few inches to add additional interior volume, mostly in the forward stateroom and galley area as well as in the engine room. With her long keel, hard chines, and a deep forefoot, the 42 Classic ranks among the most comfortable and seaworthy cruising yachts in her class. Accommodations include a forward stateroom with a large V-berth, forward head with shower, a well-appointed portside galley, starboard lower helm with deck door, large L-shaped settee with teak table, portside settee, and an owner’s stateroom with queen bed. Twin 210hp Cat (or Cummins) diesels cruise at 9–10 knots. Used GB 42s are constantly in demand by yachting traditionalists.

Price Range: From $60–75K to the mid $300s.

1979–90; 1996–2004

1965–2004

Grand Banks 42 Europa

Grand Banks 42 Classic

Grand-Banks-42-Classic

At a Glance: Stately sundeck motoryacht with full-beam master stateroom and efficient semi-displacement hull — a beautiful cruising yacht, but she never achieved the over-the-top popularity of the Grand Banks 42 Classic. Two interiors were offered; a standard three stateroom layout with the galley up, or optional two-stateroom plan with the galley down. Behind the helm to starboard is an L-shaped dining area with teak table and settee. Steps at the aft end of the salon lead down to the spacious master stateroom with walkaround queen bed, built-in desk, and generous storage. In 1991, Grand Banks redesigned the hull of all of their 42-footers, expanding the width and length by six inches. Twin 210hp Cats cruise at 8–10 knots. Twin 375hp Cats cruise at 14–15 knots.

Price Range: From the mid $100s to mid $300s.

1985–2007

1987–2004

Grand Banks 46 Classic

Grand Banks 42 Motor Yacht

At a Glance: Viewed by many Grand Banks enthusiasts as one of the best cruising yachts of her day. Several interior layouts were offered over the years, and while a three-stateroom floorplan was standard, a galley-down, two-stateroom plan proved popular as well. The large owner's aft cabin is designed with a walkaround queen-sized bed and direct cockpit access. With her spacious salon and comfortable staterooms, the 46 offers plenty of interior space yet remains easily manageable by a crew of two. Like all Grand Banks models, the 46 Classic was built to high productions standards. The deckhouse tooling was changed at hull in 1988 to provide slightly wider side decks aft. The large engine room has over five feet of headroom. Twin Cat or Cummins diesels deliver a top speed of 18–20 knots.

Price Range: From low $100s to $400K-plus.

Grand-Banks-46-Classic

At a Glance: Top-tier cruising yacht with classic Europa lines — built on the same hard-chined hull as the GB 46 Classic. Standard two-stateroom interior has the galley forward in the salon, two full heads, and a roomy owner’s stateroom forward with walkaround island bed. An optional two-stateroom, galley-down layout has a larger salon and smaller master stateroom and guest head. Teak parquet flooring extends through the interior, and 360-degree salon windows provide panoramic views of the water. Sliding wood-framed doors open to a large cockpit that is shaded by a bridge overhang. Molded steps in the cockpit provide easy access to the flybridge. Cummins 210hp diesels cruise at 9–10 knots. Cat 375hp diesels cruise at 13–14 knots. One of the most desireable of the original Grand Banks trawlers.

Price Range: From the high $200s to low-to-mid $600s.

1980–97

1993–2008

Grand Banks 49 Classic

Grand Banks 46 Europa

At a Glance: Top-tier cruising yacht (over 125 were reportedly built) combines traditional Grand Banks elegance with world-class comfort and quality. The standard three-stateroom interior with galley up includes a spacious master stateroom aft with walkaround queen bed and two guest staterooms forward with athwartships single berths in the starboard cabin and V-berths forward. An alternate two-stateroom layout with the galley down has a booth dinette in place of the third stateroom. The standup engine room has space for a washer/dryer. Interior woodwork is satin-finished teak with hardwood parquet flooring throughout. Originally powered with twin 120hp Lehman diesels, later models came with Cat diesels from 210hp (11–12 knots top) to 435hp (17–18 knots top).

Price Range: From the low $200s to the high $300s.

Grand-Banks-42-Europa
Grand-Banks-42-MY
Grand-Banks-46-Europa

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Eight Classic Grand Banks Trawlers Always in Demand

At a Glance: Originally designed for the European market in the early 1970s. Wood construction until 1973. It wasn't until 1970 that the 42 Europa was seriously marketed in the U.S.  Retired from the Grand Banks fleet in 1991 due to lagging sales. When she was reintroduced in 1996, the Europa was built on a new, slightly larger hull allowing for an enlarged forward stateroom and stairs to replace the former flybridge ladder. As with all Grand Banks yachts, the Europa’s interior is a blend of handcrafted teak joinery and premium hardware and fixtures. While the salon dimensions aren’t extravagant for a boat this size, large cabin windows make the interior seem open and comfortable. Cat 210hp Cat diesels cruise at 10 knots, and twin 375hp Cats cruise at 14–15 knots.

Price Range: From the low $100s to $500K-plus.