Greetings from a new member

[Idle Hour]

Everyone,
New guy here, I have owned two Grady's before, a 24' Offshore and a 20' CC. I am currently doing my research and shopping for a 228 Seafarer. I am digging through old posts and forums to answer my questions before I ask them and annoy anyone.
I have one question that I have not found an answer to yet, what is the first year that the Seafarer could have come from the factory with a 250 or 300 Yamaha four stroke?
Thank you for your help : )
IH

 

[Mustang65fbk]

Welcome aboard! I actually just bought a 2004 Grady White 228 Seafarer a year ago last month back in Maryland and then trailered her back 3,009 miles to just north of Seattle where I live. The GW website is very helpful in that they have the older years/models of boat brochures archived there. So you can pick the year, download it and see most of the old specs, max hp ratings and so forth. To answer your question, the 228 Seafarer went through a design change in 1998 that went up until 2020 or so when they discontinued it, and they looked essentially the same throughout that time. A few things were changed like the supports on the earlier hardtops, then they did a few things with the transom bracket to switch to heavier 4 stroke motors in 2002, as well as the dash area was changed I believe around 2008? Anyway, the 1998 and up 228 Seafarer's have always had at least a 250 hp maximum rating, so you could've ordered a 228 Seafarer with a 250 hp outboard anytime from 1998 on up until they discontinued them. Then in 2011 they must've changed up something again I'm assuming because it then went up to a 300 hp maximum rating and to where the F300 was an available option. I've got a 2004 Yamaha F225 with around 1k hours on my boat and she'll do 45 mph in perfect conditions, though with rises in fuel costs and not wanting to literally burn money for no reason, I typically run around 20-25 mph most of the time. An F250 on there would probably get you close to a 50 mph top speed and I'm thinking the F300 would likely put you into the low 50's.

Grady-White | Archived Brochures

Download past Grady-White brochures dating back to 1958.

www.gradywhite.com

 

[JJF]

Hi,

Welcome. I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that I saw three on CL -> Boston -> Boats

 

[Idle Hour]

Guys,
Thank you for the replies. Mustang, you gave me the exact info I needed. Now I know where to start looking a the original brochures. JJF, I will check on that intel.
Fun fact, I live about 3 hrs west of the Grady Factory. We will use our 228 to chase trophy blue cats on Kerr lake with a few yearly trips to chase sharks and amber jacks.
Thank you,
IH

 

[JJF]

FYI..

If you are interested in the one in Bourne, MA and if the seller is amenable, I am happy to check it out for you.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

I personally think the 2009 in Raymond is the better deal out of the two boats in that it has a hardtop, a kicker motor, less hours on the main motor and it looks like it has better electronics. Though, the fact that neither has sold in almost a month makes me think there's a reason for that, and imo that would most likely be the asking price.

2009 Grady White 228 - boats - by dealer - marine sale

250 Yamaha 4 stroke, recent Mercury 9.9 kicker and controls. Hardtop with enclosure, radar, full width swim platform, vhf, radio, gps, equipped properly to fish! Tandem axle aluminum bunk trailer...

maine.craigslist.org

 

[JJF]

actually, Raymond, ME is not that much farther from me than Bourne, so I could take a look at the one as well...

 

[Idle Hour]

Are there people who can deliver a boat and trailer from say, Boston to NC?
What would something like that cost?
Would it be towed or hauled?

 

[Mustang65fbk]

Are there people who can deliver a boat and trailer from say, Boston to NC?
What would something like that cost?
Would it be towed or hauled?

There are shipping companies out there like UShip and others that will charge you to have them trailer/transport the boat from one location to the other but I personally would want to at least get eyes on the boat in person before doing business with a seller. That way you can make sure it's actually a real boat, that the seller is honest and that the boat is in the condition that it's described as being in. I also recommend with any boat purchase that you have an accredited marine surveyor inspect the boat and do a sea trial run with you. I've actually done three cross country road trips for boats over the last 5 years, of which I'll be honest and say I'm not sure if I'd ever do another one. I purchased each of my 3 boats in Maryland and live just north of Seattle, which my last trek was 3,009 miles one way, although the first time I did it roundtrip. Boston to NC is next to nothing comparatively and you could likely do the drive yourself if you felt comfortable, or rent a trunk. Though your safest bet would likely be to have a company transport it for you. I got quotes through UShip for each of my boats and they ranged anywhere from around $4k on all the way up to over $7k and did it myself for less each time. Even though this last time I probably didn't save much more than I would've spent with the shipping company, but at the time they were 2-3 weeks out and then it would've taken them a week to get the boat to me. Which I didn't want to wait 3-4 weeks to get my boat, and I didn't want to have any issues, so I did the journey myself.

Home - The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors

Welcome to The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors® Find a Marine Surveyor Locate By: U.S. States | Canadian Provinces | Other Countries Types of Surveys Types of Surveys Tug & Barge Cargo Commercial Workboat Yachts & Small Craft Engine Fishing Vessel Hull & Machinery Tug & Barge Cargo...

www.marinesurvey.org

NAMSGlobal | An International Association of Marine Surveyors | The National Association of Marine Surveyors, Inc. | Find A Marine Surveyor Near Me | Training | Education | Certification | Referral | NAMS | NAMS-CMS

NAMSGlobal members are marine surveyors who inspect, and provide a broad variety of consulting services for the maritime industry. Our members are certified based on their knowledge and experience, with designations for: Yachts and Small Craft, Cargo, and Hull and Machinery (including Fishing Vessel

www.namsglobal.org

 

[Fishtales]

Welcome. Lean on folks here. People will be friendly and provide you with info - maybe a bit too much at times but I'd rather have more than less!

 

[Idle Hour]

I would definitely hire a surveyor and inspect the boat myself. I was just wondering how the shipping works works. It is a nice option depending on where the boat is.
I have sold two boats that were surveyed, a Shamrock and a Grady. It went well both times, so I would protect myself that way too.

 

[JJF]

I would recommend either transporting yourself or using only a transporter who specializes in moving boats. There are plenty of them on the East coast.

 

[JJF]

FYI

I saw this listing on CL.

I don't know them, but they could be an option for a hauler.

Boat Hauling Local and Long Distance - boats - by owner - marine sale

Boat hauling, local and long distance throughout New England And way beyond. Up to 45 Feet, power boats only. We can haul on one of our hydraulic trailers or on your own trailer. Fully licensed and...

boston.craigslist.org

 

[luckydude]

Idle when you get your 228, look me up. I bought a 2020 new from the factory and I've done a bunch of stuff to it to make it nicer. At one point, when the stock market was very good to me, I was looking to upgrade to a Marlin but I backed away from that because even the mighty Marlin is not that great a ride in 2-3 feet wind chop (I wanted a faster, comfortable ride home but at $365K for not that much better of a ride, I'm staying with my 228).

Grady should have done something to deal with the heavier 4 strokes on that swim platform. If it were up to me, when they went to width of the boat platforms, I would have expanded the "box" under it that holds it up, I would have run that all the way out to the sides of the platform to make a bigger box that would have created more lift. That would have made it run more like a 25 foot boat.

Ping me when you get one, I've mostly got mine dialed in, doing a few upgrades this winter and I'll be close to done. The 228 is not the perfect boat but it is the perfect boat that you can trailer into tight places. I'll always have bigger boat envy but I suspect my 228 is the last boat I'll own. It will chase bluefin and albacore and come home.