228 Seafarer to a 258 Journey?

[Ky Grady]

I get the "itis" itch every now and then and am considering upgrading to a 258 Journey. I really like the 282 Sailfish, but in reality, I don't ever see myself moving from Kentucky to the coast to have the need for the 282. The 258 would give me a little more fishing room and stability to play in the Keys, make a Bimini run, still catfish in South Carolina and Walleye fish in Lake Erie. Still only one motor to maintain and still able to handle solo if need be. Repower to a F300 and should do and go anywhere I want while still using wisdom on windy/sporty days on the water.

Those with 258's, please chime in and thoughts from others would be welcomed.

 

[family affair]

Not exactly the same, but we had the 248 for 10 years moving from the 204. Night and day difference for rough water, ride, and stability.
Above 4 footers on the 204, I would get a little nervous about catching a wave wrong and having water in the walk around. The 228 has more height in the bow and likely does better.
I've been in up to 6' stacked waves on the 248 and never felt uneasy.
Crossing a 2 foot wake in the 204 at speed was never an option. Tab or trim the 248 down and let her eat! I can't confirm it, but it looks like the entry on the 258 is sharper than the 248, so it should do even better - like the 268 to the 270.
Having 2 big guys move to one side of the 204 and you leaned noticably. In the 248 you could hardly tell.
The cabin is a huge upgrade in the 258 too.
Honestly, considering your tow rig, I'm surprised you didn't make this move sooner. No brainer in my book.
Looking into to your future, the leap to a twin 270 is a whole different can of worms! The 258 is definitely easier to own, minus tight quarters maneuvering with the single. If only there was a baby bow thruster!

 

[Halfhitch]

The only problem I see with making a trade is the pristine nature of the bilge in your 228 may be hard to achieve in the 258 so the epitome of bilges will lost forever.

 

[HMBJack]

"Those with 258's, please chime in and thoughts from others would be welcomed."

I spent alot of time on a close friend's 258 (w twin 150 two strokes). Hull was a year 2000 if that matters.
Worst riding GW I have ever been on (my personal experience so no hard feeling to others out there).

I owned a 228 for three years and loved it. Thought it rode waaay better than my friend's 258.
Length and weight wise, not much difference between the two so I'd question a move from the 228.

Now, a move from a 228 to a Gulfstream makes more sense in my mind due to the significantly wider beam.
But staying with what you got is not a terrible idea since you have cared for your 228 beyond normalcy. Just sayin...

 

[Ryhlick]

Having owned a 228 for 6 years and love it. I think the 228 is the biggest small boat out there. All that said, the Journey 258 with twin 150's is another level of boat. Ride quality is same to better than the 228 but you are also 2 feet longer. I fish regularly on a 258 (10-15 days a summer) and have been in a variety of conditions, and I have nothing but praise for the 258. I think the 258 is the best of all the smaller boats Grady made and it is a shame they have stopped building all of their walk around models. The 258 is a gem and I would not hesitate to trade my 228. for one. It has a bit more deck space, but the ride is just a bit better. Good Luck

 

[Mustang65fbk]

The layout of the 258 Journey seems a bit better in regard to fishing as it appears to have a bit more fishing space, it doesn't have the molded in side seats like the 228 Seafarer has nor does it have the live well that takes up a good deal of room. It also has a rear flip down seat, which I'm sure is nice to use when you want it, and probably even more so when you don't want it you can then move it out of the way, as well as a transom door if you wanted/needed one. The cabin is also going to be a bit bigger than the 228 Seafarer and more manageable for multiple adults, overnights and so forth. I think my biggest concern with the 258 Journey would be the market/resale value for it, in that it doesn't seem to be a very popular boat compared to the 228 Seafarer/232 Gulfstream and other walkarounds. For buying one, it would likely be quite good in that there doesn't seem to be much other competition out there and the prices are pretty comparable to smaller Grady's like the 208 Adventure/228 Seafarer/232 Gulfstream, etc. But, I don't imagine if you wanted to sell it in the future that you'd be able to get as much money for it as you'd be able to get for your 228 Seafarer, especially after repowering it. I imagine you'd likely have quite a bit less interest from potential buyers if you were to buy and then sell a 258 Journey, maybe especially one that has a single main motor to it as opposed to twins? Just my thoughts on the matter, of course.