I just bought a 2004 Grady White 228 Seafarer with the hardtop last October back in Maryland after looking over a year for one, and then trailered her back home 3,009 miles to just north of Seattle via a U-Haul truck. My previous boat was a 21' Arima that is made out here in the Seattle area, of which they almost have a cult like following to them. I owned 2 of those boats and sold them after a couple of seasons because they're a modified vee, very lightweight, all of the weight is in the rear and the boat sits very low in the water. The result is a very rough ride that slaps you around and is quite jarring in the 1'-2'+ chop and with the boat sitting so low in the water, you'll get spray over the windshield and sides of the boat. Not very fun, especially when it's cold and/or windy outside. Like I said, it wasn't more than a couple of seasons before I thought to myself that I wanted something bigger, better, nicer and smoother. The 228 Seafarer checked off all the boxes that I had and as Ky Grady mentioned, it's a very versatile boat in that you can do just about anything with it, within reason. I don't go 60 miles out in the open ocean like you do so I couldn't really tell you about that part of it as the Puget Sound here is all protected waters and you don't see more than 4'-5' swells for the most part. But I did have the boat out once last October before it turned into winter and there were definitely 5' swells, but the boat handled great and without any issues.
I liked the idea of the 228 Seafarer for a multitude of reasons but one of the biggest things that I like about the boat is the transom bracket on the back as well as the fully enclosed transom. My Arima had a motor well that the motor would rest in when it was tilted up and it took up a good deal of space, imo the same is true with the 208 Adventure as well as the 226 Seafarer and other Grady White's that have an open or notched transom. I also liked the enclosed transom because I put my boat out on a mooring buoy for weeks/months on end during the summer and didn't want to potentially have an issue. As well as my parents are in their early 70's and I have a niece that's almost 7, so I wanted the extra safety of an enclosed transom. The 228 Seafarer also has an all level floor/cockpit in that there aren't any steps or stairs like there are with the larger models like the 232 Gulfstream on up, which again with having somewhat older parents and a younger niece... I don't want anyone tripping or slipping and hurting themselves if it can be avoided. The 228 Seafarer is a much bigger boat than my 21' Arima, I love the SV2 hull design, so much smoother of a ride, much more comfortable, more seating, bigger cabin space, I love the hardtop as I'm a pretty fairly complected person so I like to stay out of the sun when it's really hot and it keeps you out of the rain when it's raining. I've got a Yamaha F225 on my boat and while I haven't gone WOT with the boat yet, the Grady White brochure says she will top out at 45 mph WOT, which is faster than I ever really need to go. You can use the boat for fishing, crabbing, shrimping, taking the kids on an inner tube or waterski, you can just cruise on it if you want, hop over to the beach or sandbar or I really want to take it to Sea Fair one of these years as well as to a Huskies football game, anchor up, maybe do a little sailgating, take a water taxi into the game and so on.
The boat is very doable in every aspect just by yourself in that you can trailer/launch/captain/retrieve the boat fairly well all by yourself, although it's obviously always a bit easier with a buddy or family member. As stated above, I trailered the boat back 3,009 miles from Deale, MD to just north of Seattle last October and it was very easy to trailer with a U-Haul truck that had a 10k lb max tow rating. You can fish by yourself or with family or a buddy very easily and as stated above it's a very versatile boat, you can sleep overnight in it and do just about whatever you'd like to. Obviously it's only a 22' boat and it has its limitations with regards to size but it sounds like it'll do everything you want it to do as you can sit 6 people in the boat with there being 6 seats in it, but you have room for more up front on the bow if you wanted to, though I wouldn't recommend that while cruising too fast. I bought my boat, motor and trailer package from a Grady White dealer in Maryland for $26.5k. Their asking price was $28k, I offered them $26.5k and they said sure. I think that's one of the best deals I've personally ever seen for a 2004 and newer boat in the condition that mine is in as my max budget was $35k, and most boats of that vintage on the east coast seem to be that price or more. I bought mine in Maryland because an identical boat to mine sold for $55k out here in Seattle, as it seems like boats, cars, homes and everything else are crazy expensive out here. So, if you're able to shop around to potentially save some money and either trailer it or have it shipped back, then that's what I would do, and did. I'd have your money or finances in order and be ready to move quickly because like Ky Grady said, there are lots of guys out there who are looking for a 228 Seafarer as well. I always recommend having an accredited marine surveyor inspect any boat you are looking at purchasing and if you do buy one with an early 2000's Yamaha 4 stroke on it, be sure to the motor inspected for the common dry exhaust corrosion problem. You can Google that to see what it is, if you don't already. The 1998 and newer 228 Seafarer's had a design change compared to the 1997 and older models, which I think the newer ones look much better. I believe 1998 and 1999 models also had a slightly different hardtop that was flat and also as mentioned above, the overhead electronics compartment I believe was only on the one side? Good luck!
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