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Eastbay 43
"Well, here goes," he said, sticking a toe cautiously into the pool.
Here's some observations on the GB Eastbay 43. Tell ya right now, I won't respond to flamers. Grand Banks 43 Eastbay SX Grand Banks is considered one of the most prestigious trademarks among powerboat manufacturers. The very first Grand Banks trawlers were built in Hong Kong exactly forty years ago. Grand Banks helped popularize the trawler yacht category in the United States, with the public often accepting Grand Banks quality as the default standard when evaluating other trawlers. Over the decades, Grand Banks has earned a reputation for producing beautiful, durable, vessels equipped with top caliber components. Owner loyalty has been strong, as has the legendary Grand Banks resale value. Grand Banks trawlers and the dozens of competing companies producing visually similar boats have had a major impact on the look of powerboating in the Pacific Northwest. As we begin the 21st Century, there is some indication that the NW powerboat profile continues to evolve. The boating public has evaluated the trade-offs between maximum fuel economy and reasonable speed, and is more frequently opting for the speed end of the equation. Many of the traditional tug and trawler manufacturers have responded by fitting monster engines into semi-displacement hulls. Not many years ago, a boater would have astonished at the sight of a vessel that should be plowing along in displacement mode at 8 or 9 knots running well up on plane and turning 15 or 20. Today, "fast trawlers" and high performance tugs are commonly encountered. Grand Banks has certainly participated in the fast trawler trend. Fitted with a pair of 375HP engines, a Grand Banks 42 trawler can cruise at 16 kts, and reach top speeds of 20. The same hull, equipped with the classic, single 120HP Lehman, would predictably cruise at 8 kts and top out just over 9. If some of us are going to boat so lickety-split, is the traditional trawler hull and superstructure always the optimal choice, (or even among the best choices), for the purpose? Somebody at Grand Banks had the foresight to realize, a full ten years ago, that many potential boat buyers would appreciate the option of express cruiser styling built to traditional Grand Banks standards. In 1994, the Grand Banks Eastbay 36 Express was introduced. A 40-foot version debuted in 1996, and a series of larger vessels followed. Characteristic among any trademark with strong owner loyalty, there is always a demand for larger boats. The Eastbay series now includes boats up to 58-feet. Passage Maker Yachts recently acquired the Grand Banks franchise in Seattle, and they brought the first 43' Eastbay to the Pacific Northwest. The 43' Eastbay is available in four versions. The EX model is a traditional express cruiser, featuring a removable canvas top. There's a FB (flybridge) model with a tall structure well aft that begins to suggest an East Coast sportfisherman design. The 43 Eastbay HX is a hardtop express cruiser, without a rear cabin bulkhead. The new boat in stock at Passage Maker Yachts is the 43 Eastbay SX, or "sedan express" with an aft bulkhead separating the salon from the cockpit. The design appears well suited to year 'round cruising in our regional waters. Greg Mathes, of Passage Maker Yachts, graciously assisted us with this article. C. Raymond Hunt designed a hull that Grand Banks describes as a "modified deep-V". We were able to previously view the boat while hauled out during original commissioning, and observed what seemed to be a traditional profile, altered by the inclusion of large prop tunnels. Props on the 43' Eastbay at Passage Maker Yachts are 24 x 30.5 inch, 5-blade- capable of stirring up some serious water. The bow is moderately raked. Consistent with express cruiser styling, freeboard is adequate but not extreme. The sheer is very gradual, with freeboard at the bow about 150% that of the transom. A long foredeck and lower deck cabin top create a salty looking forward profile, and the Passage Maker boat includes two stainless air scoops mounted atop teak dorades on the lower cabintop. The traditional signature of the teak dorades is additionally emphasized by teak quaterboards for the port and starboard running lights. The pilothouse and salon emerge at exactly the right interval to keep the bulk of the taller superstructure well aft and still preserve a usable cockpit. A jaunty, raked, aluminum mast with spreaders tops the profile of he Eastbay 43. The Grand Banks 43 Eastbay is 43' LOA, with a 13'2" beam, a 3'7" draft, and a displacement of 29,760 pounds. Standard tankage is 110 gallons potable water and 450 gallons fuel. Grand Banks has always been known for wide side-decks, and the 43 Eastbay continues the tradition. The stainless rails have to be among the most substantially anchored in the industry. Each stanchion terminates atop a teak toe rail with stainless hawse chocks. For most of the stanchions, a second vertical brace is secured between the fiberglass deck and the primary stanchion. One gets initial impression the system might be overbuilt, but memories of watching lesser deck railings twisting into pretzels following moderate docking mishaps confirm that the additional bracing is far more than just a visual sales gimmick. While the side decks are non-skid fiberglass, the teak deck in the cockpit preserves a bit of Grand Banks traditionalism. The interior: The Eastbay 43 is entered through a pair of aft bulkhead doors. Talk about substantial, I hope my bank has such a lock! Each half of the door is fully dogged, and a moment is required to become used to the amount of handle movement necessary to free the door. While the door is impressively engineered for strength, one of the very few demerits we'd give this boat is that the door could have or should have been a bit wider. With only half the door latched open, passing from the salon to the cockpit is tight but workable. Carrying anything of any size at all would require that both halves of the door to be utilized. If one were blindfolded and brought aboard this vessel and then asked to guess the make when the blindfold was removed, one look at the quality of the interior finish work would be sufficient to establish the builder as Grand Banks. If Stradivarius built a 43-foot violin, its finish might resemble the interior teak finish on an Eastbay 43; (if Stradivarius were having a particularly good day). The interior veneers and moldings are so evenly stained and consistently grained, it's almost as if the entire interior had been crafted from a single tree. Grand Banks offers several options for finish, and Passage Maker ordered this vessel with satin veneers and semi-gloss caps and moldings. A classy combination. A teak and holly sole completes the classic, traditional interior. Everything is incredibly well turned out on the Eastbay 43. We poked into lockers, under hatches, and peered into areas where most casual inspectors would never think to look. We couldn't find a "dirty little secret" anywhere, everything was well assembled and finished. There are only a few places where exposed screws are visible, (such as the removable instrument console panel at the helm and above the front cabin windows). In such areas, the builders took the extra step of lining the Phillips screw slots perfectly parallel and perpendicular to the edge of the fastened panels. A nice touch. The Eastbay 43 is a two-stateroom vessel. The master stateroom is most forward, with a centerline queen berth. There are three stowage lockers to port and three to starboard in the master stateroom, in addition to large hanging lockers on either side. Grand Banks offers optional interiors with either a single head (like the boat at Passage Maker) or a two head configuration. With the single head layout, the VacuFlush marine toilet and cultured marble hand basin are located in a compartment immediately aft of the master stateroom and to port, while the enormous shower is across the companionway to starboard. The guest stateroom, (two stacked bunks) in next aft of the shower to starboard, so the shower creates a zone of addiional privacy between the guest and master staterooms. When the boat is built with two heads, there is a slight reduction of space in the master stateroom, the shower is combined with the VacuFlush and hand basin to port, and the starboard guest stateroom is separated from the master only by a bulkhead. The second head, (with no shower stall) is then located aft of the guest stateroom. For a cruising couple, or a family that seldom overnights with other adults aboard, the single head layout appears to offer some benefits that would offset the occasional inconvenience associated with the lack of a second toilet. In either the one-head or two-head layout, the galley is "down" and to port. The galley is a "U" shaped affair, with Corian countertops and a double stainless sink. While many builders toss a plastic, faux teak panel on the refrigerator door and consider it acceptable, Grand Banks builds a heavy, solid, teak door for the under-counter refrigerator and secures it with a latch that would be sufficient for a commercial freezer. A three-burner electric cooktop and oven will handle baking, frying, and boiling- while a combination convection/microwave oven will expedite cooking when convenience or a change of schedule demands. There is an optional, top load freezer available on the 43 Eastbay and Passage Maker's boat is equipped with same. The pilothouse and salon are up a few steps from the forward compartments. The helm is to starboard, with A large compass mounted atop a console designed to house the first owner's ensemble of electronics. Visibility is excellent, and headroom is about 6'5". An (optional) leather helmseat by Stidd is as adjustable and comfortable as any skipper could wish for. The wheel is a rim comprised of alternating segments of light and dark teak, with stainless spokes. Who could imagine a Grand Banks without a proper chart table? The Eastbay 43 has a large navigation area opposite the helm. As one might expect, a folding teak top with brass hinges covers an ample chart and implement stowage area. As one might not expect, pressing a button on a remote control raises a concealed cabinet from the chart stowage compartment. The concealed cabinet is designed to hold a flat screen TV. While such an item might some rather gimmicky, on the Eastbay 43 is makes tremendous sense. Placing a TV elsewhere in the salon would block at least one of the cabin windows, and the near 360-degree visibility is a definite asset on any vessel with a single helm. A pair of settees completes the furnishings in the salon. The standard 43 Eastbay has a single settee and a pair of armchairs, but the boat at Passage Maker Yachts has the optional, second settee. Overhead hatches help insure the area will be as light and bright as possible. Each hatch has a bug screen as well as an opaque privacy panel, each retracting into an opposite side of an exquisitely finished teak hatch frame. The engine room: The engine room is accessed through a hatch in the salon. The hatch is large enough to create a generous opening, and is supported by gas struts when opened. A sturdy ladder facilitates access and egress. The Eastbay 43 at Passage Maker is powered by a pair of 450HP Caterpillar engines, (model 3126B). Access to all service functions is excellent, and three fluorescent fixtures provide a high level of illumination. The generator (9KW Onan) is mounted between the primary stringers against the aft engine room bulkhead. Most of the vessel's wiring terminates at bus bars protected by clear plastic locker doors on the forward bulkhead of the engine room. The electrical workmanship is impressive, once again setting a high standard for hopeful contenders. The optional "Reverso" oil change system will help assure that the engine room stays immaculately clean. There is far less opportunity to soil the area during an oil change when a built-in system is installed. Underway: The 3126B CATS are electronically controlled, with every vital measurement displayed on a pair of digital "CAT Marine Power" monitors at the helm. From a stone-cold start, the engines fired instantly and immediately ran without any notable amount of visible exhaust smoke. A "slow vessel" throttle control reduces the 750-RPM idle speed to 600 when in close quarters. One can always throttle up, but there are instances where only a very minimal amount of propulsion can be more desirable than a powerful thrust. The wide side decks make hauling in the fenders and dressing the lines an easy chore. We set off across Lake Union at the 7-knot legal limit. Each CAT was turning about 800 RPM, and the Marine Power Monitors indicated total fuel consumption between 3- 4 gph. The acoustic insulation proved to be excellent. At idle speeds, one is only vaguely aware that 900 diesel HP are lurking only a few feet away from the helm. When we eventually ran at higher speeds, a normal conversational tone was still adequate for conversing at the helm. After reaching Webster Point, we throttled up to see what the CATS would do. Cruising speed is about 2300 RPM on the CATS, and 2800 RPM is wide-open throttle. We zipped along at 23 knots at 2300, and reached 30 at WOT. Fuel consumption was rather typical for most boats at these speeds, with economy at cruising speed running about 1nmpg. We found a lot to like with the Eastbay 43's performance and handling characteristics. The perfectly, (electronically) synchronized engines and the high level of quality control resulted in a completely rattle-free experience. We encountered a few fair-sized wakes, and the Eastbay simply hammered through them with only the slightest disruption in a rock steady ride. The vessel's turning circle is much tighter than would be expected, even at speeds above 20 knots. The excellent impression created by the design and workmanship of the Eastbay 43 is additionally validated by a high quality experience underway. One has to be impressed with the subtlety of the Eastbay 43 hull design. Without extreme flare or sheer, we maintained a dry foredeck as we headed into wakes at a variety of speeds. The only aspect of the Eastbay 43 performance that could be criticized might be the need to use trim tabs to keep the bow down. When we first accelerated to cruising speed we had the tabs "off." The bow didn't rise to the extreme, "Whoa Nelly!" degree sometimes encountered on other boats, but the untrimmed angle was less than 100-percent satisfactory. The bow responded to a judicious use to trim tab. We found that at speeds above 20 knots, the trim tabs were generally not necessary. When the boat is fully loaded, there will be more weight in the forward compartments and the ride may be somewhat more level. Even so, any boat with prop tunnels experiences a decrease in buoyancy aft and the aggressive wheels under the Eastbay 43 are going to dig a fair sized "hole". Grand Banks put trim tabs on the Eastbay for a reason, and the important factor is that the very mild bow rise is controllable and correctable. Conclusion: Pacific Northwest boaters will be well served by the Eastbay 43. The vessel is a speedy island-hopper, and a comfortable habitat at anchor. The boat appears to be more than adequately seaworthy for a run to Alaska or a circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, and should be comfortable in all but extreme conditions in inland waters. Fun, versatile, good-looking, and well made. All desirable attributes in a boat, and qualities that most will agree are well represented by the Eastbay 43. Manufacturers suggested retail price for a 2004 Eastbay 43 is $599,566. The Passage Maker Yachts boat is optionally equipped with an additional freezer, five extra 12-volt circuit breakers, the oil change system, a salt-water rode washdown, Racor cross-over fuel filter system, additional courtesy lights, the second settee, the flat screen TV cabinet, and a long list of gelcoat, stripe and fabric upgrades. The list price of hull #85, at Passage Maker, is $654,660. Not everybody will be in a position to afford a new Eastbay 43, but for discerning boaters of sufficient means, the Eastbay 43 is worthy of careful consideration. |
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Eastbay 43
Good article! Congratulations.
"Listen to the live broadcast of 'Nautical Talk Radio' with Captain Lou every Sunday afternoon from 4 - 5 (Eastern Standard Time) on the web at www.959watd.com or if you are in Boston or Cape Cod set your radio dial to 95.9FM. |
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Eastbay 43
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Eastbay 43
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Eastbay 43
On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 18:39:29 -0500, John H
wrote: Does GB make a 32' or 36' or thereabouts? Something us po' folk might look at and dream. Also, about what do used GB's sell for? ============================================= Smallest I'm aware of is 36 feet. Prices are all over the place from $50K to five times that depending on age and condition. Prior to the mid 1970s most GBs had wood hulls and those tend to sell for less as you might expect. Here's a few from boat trader online: http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/8/0/58231580.htm http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/2/2/55976122.htm http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/3/6/59577836.htm http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/1/0/58811810.htm http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/7/8/26776578.htm |
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#7
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Eastbay 43
Wayne.B wrote:
On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 18:39:29 -0500, John H wrote: Does GB make a 32' or 36' or thereabouts? Something us po' folk might look at and dream. Also, about what do used GB's sell for? ============================================= Smallest I'm aware of is 36 feet. Prices are all over the place from $50K to five times that depending on age and condition. Prior to the mid 1970s most GBs had wood hulls and those tend to sell for less as you might expect. Here's a few from boat trader online: http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/8/0/58231580.htm http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/2/2/55976122.htm http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/3/6/59577836.htm http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/1/0/58811810.htm http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/7/8/26776578.htm Grand Banks used to make a 32, a real sweetie. -- Email sent to is never read. |
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Eastbay 43
Gould 0738 wrote:
"Well, here goes," he said, sticking a toe cautiously into the pool. Here's some observations on the GB Eastbay 43. Tell ya right now, I won't respond to flamers. Grand Banks 43 Eastbay SX Applauds, great article Mr. Gould. It seems you know alot about boats, have you ever heard a Mickelsen? The only reason I ask is I was in Costa Rica recently and went on a charter on a 64 foot Mickelson, I think the captain said it was made in 2000. When I saw the boat and stepped on it I said to myself, WOW this is by far the nicest sportfish I've ever been on. This boat had every amenity as far as electronics and creature comforts, you name it this boat had it. But it was a real DOG in ocean, 3 to 4 foot seas and this boat was struggling to get up to 17 knots. We had a following sea on the way back and it just tossed the ass end of the boat around horribly, not that it was unsafe, just seemed to be better suited as a "trawler" boat then a real ocean sportfish boat. I think it had prop pockets, made odd noises while we we trolling. Not in the market for that kind of boat, just wondering if you have ever heard the boat and if have any opinion on it. Thanks Dan |
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Eastbay 43
"Gould 0738" wrote in message ... "Well, here goes," he said, sticking a toe cautiously into the pool. Here's some observations on the GB Eastbay 43. Tell ya right now, I won't respond to flamers. Grand Banks 43 Eastbay SX snip Interesting article, although a little of the verbage seemed a little over the top. Stradivarius? |
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#10
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Eastbay 43
Not in the market for that kind of boat, just wondering if you have ever
heard the boat and if have any opinion on it. Thanks Dan Not familiar with the Mickelson. Sonds like it was badly suited for the usage you experienced, though. Maybe a case of running too fast into the weather? |
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