Grady Express 360

[Trogdor]

Hi All,

I have a 2000 model 272 Sailfish and am looking to upgrade in the medium term. I had my heart set on a 2-4 year old 330 Express with Helm Master, and potentially Seakeeper as the next boat.

A 2013 Grady Express 360 has just come up for sale at what appears to be a similar price. The boat has had a re-power in 2020 and this included Helm Master (which I really want, for holding spot at the FADs, and just general parking if others or even me are driving!). No seakeeper but that is not a must have. Just a nice to have!

A few questions:

- The boat has twin 350 Yamaha's - is this underpowered? A 330 Express I tool for a sea trial (a smaller boat) had twin 425hp, and the new Express 370 (which I believe is the successor and a similar-ish sized boat the the 360 is rated to 1350hp max).
- How similar is the 360 to the 370 hull? I'm finding it surprising one is rated to 750hp max and the other to 1350hp max if they are similar hulls?
- assume at next repower it would be difficult / impossible to go over the original rated max hp (e.g. 750hp) even if the 370 Expresses are rated for much more?
- Is it possible to add Seakeeper to a 360 easily down the track?

Would you go for a 2019-2020 330 with 850hp or a 2013 360 with 700 hp and retrofitted helm master for very similar prices?

Thanks!

 

[Automated14]

I'd much rather go for the newer boat Personally, I'm not the best captain on the earth but even a dope like me doesn't see the need for helm master. That 330 will have a bow thruster and the engines on a 330 are very far apart. A little practice can make up for that. Seakeeper is whole other issue- no amount of skill can replace what that thing does.

I don't feel the 360 with twin 350 yams is underpowerd, rather it's adequately powered- but for that kind of money, I'd want the best power to weight ratio I could possibly have.

Since you bring it up, I'd like to hear from someone who knows if the 360/370 is that much better of a ride than a 330.

 

[Fishermanbb]

I had both the 330 and 360. Prepare for the onslaught of people who will say both my boats were way underpowered. My 330 had 225’s and my 360 had trip 250’s. Neither were rockets but they were not underpowered at all. Both cruised comfortable at 30 MPH. I went offshore plenty and was in rough seas and never once needed more power. The twin 350’s are plenty of power for the 360. It is the same hull as the 370. You do not need helm master ( my 330 didn’t even have a thruster). In fact, I’m willing to bet you won’t even use it for holding a spot as it really revs the engines and is annoying. The 360 rides much better than the 330 but you’ll only notice it in tough conditions. It’s a tank. You will also hear to stay away from 350’s. If you have 2016 or later 350’s they are series’s “C” and all the problems with the exception of the flywheel are resolved. The flywheel needs to be replaced every certain number of hours (80) at a specific RPM range. It’s warranted for the life of the engine and there are plenty of people who are thrilled with their 350’s. You can’t go wrong with either of these boats.

 

[Trogdor]

Hi all
Thanks for your help
I ended up buying a new (well ex demo) 330 with full warranty.
I did like the 360 but the combination of an 11 year old boat, with 700 hours on its second set of engines, the 350s being discontinued, versus a warranty, seakeeper, twin 425s (in white!) and the much sleeker lines of the 330s swayed me. Plus realistically the 330 is all the boat I need at this stage and a huge upgrade from my 2000 model 272 sailfish lol!
just need to get the electronics fitted out and then hit the marin whoo!

 

[Automated14]

The guy I bought my ‘04 330 from replaced it with a 2020 330 express. We keep in touch and he loves those 425’s

 

[Coastboater]

Congrats!
Need some pics!