New Grady debut at the end of the month. Big, little, or in-between?

[SkunkBoat]

bowriders....

 

[Ekea]

ive never liked the dual consoles. the layout feels awkward and looks like a schoolbus with a long isle running down it thats dividing the boat in half

 

[igblack87]

i like the hard top (and full construction of it) and windshield side profile.

 

[family affair]

ive never liked the dual consoles. the layout feels awkward and looks like a schoolbus with a long isle running down it thats dividing the boat in half

Prototype?


I don't have an issue with the look of a Freedom, but I favor the flexibility/utility of a WA better. I'm sure one day all cross over to a DC, but we are currently very happy with the 270.

 

[Ekea]

Prototype?
View attachment 35445

I don't have an issue with the look of a Freedom, but I favor the flexibility/utility of a WA better. I'm sure one day all cross over to a DC, but we are currently very happy with the 270.

i have a cc now, but will definitely have a WA or express one day (hopefully in addition to my current boat)

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

If you look at the specs, this is a replacement for the 33. Dimensions are identical.

Yes i am aware of that, however still a confusing high number of Freedom models.

bowriders....

Yep, the return of the bowriders and they overtook the boating world

ive never liked the dual consoles. the layout feels awkward and looks like a schoolbus with a long isle running down it thats dividing the boat in half

Lol, yes thats a good description. However, they have a extreme success and attract a lot of non boaters to boating (but not sure if thats a good thing for other boaters)

I was this afternoon on my Canyon to change fuel filters and run a bottle of fuel system cleaner thru the port engine and i am still amazed about her, just perfect for my use. Sure a bigger Canyon would have some whistles and bells more but for myself the 306 has about the perfect size for my needs, same for the 330 Express or a Marlin, i had a bad Express and Cabin infection last winter but fortunately i got healed after some months of studies, decisions and sea trials of bigger express style boat.
I boat 90% alone because i can go when conditions are nice, but my buddies still work and have family and may not be available so i need a boat i can handle under any conditions alone and for that a CC is just perfect. But i guess that in a months a cabin or at least a closed helm station will be appreciated, but hey, it's not really cold here in Sardinia. However, the 2006 330 Express for sale here in Sardinia was a wreck, but i liked the style and size but i would prefer a 300 Marlin for the wider passages to the bow.

I understand that GW is not trying to make their actual boats better, at least on the 306 Canyon and the 330 Express (no offense, i was only on those two but think that it's the same for the Marlin and the smaller models) there is not really a lot to change except (usless) design changes.

Chris

 

[FREEDOM!!!]

ive never liked the dual consoles. the layout feels awkward and looks like a schoolbus with a long isle running down it thats dividing the boat in half

Better seating, more shade, family friendly. Fishing isn't the only reason to own a boat. I find that CCs separate people. You are either in the front or the back completely separated from each other. Different strokes.

 

[JJF]

What they really need is a 30 - 35 pilot house with a full walkaround.

What I really want is a 456 Canyon....(not in the budget, though) ----- LOL!

 

[Fishtales]

Beyond predictable, but they are making what people want. Not me, but I'm in the minority.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

What they really need is a 30 - 35 pilot house with a full walkaround.

A full walkaround pilothouse like Nimbus or Axopar would be with a same level deck what is great for fishing but uncool for family and fishing use , and thats GW's main business and they their design really well. Pilothouse type boats come from northern countries where the pilot house makes sense for cold and rainy weather protection but wi would not like to have one in the summer.
I personally would prefer a Marlin design with wider passages and maybe same level floor, but that would reduce cabin space a lot, but for big cabin needs there is the 330 express.
Chris

 

[McBobKC]

One thing I prefer in the new Freedom 345 vs the Freedom 335 is that the windshield incorporates into the Hardtop, no need for any eisen or strato glass…..

However, the 335 offers Twin 450s asan Option

Trips opens up a new, more expensive Insurance Experience

 

[JJF]

A full walkaround pilothouse like Nimbus or Axopar would be with a same level deck what is great for fishing but uncool for family and fishing use , and thats GW's main business and they their design really well. Pilothouse type boats come from northern countries where the pilot house makes sense for cold and rainy weather protection but wi would not like to have one in the summer.
I personally would prefer a Marlin design with wider passages and maybe same level floor, but that would reduce cabin space a lot, but for big cabin needs there is the 330 express.
Chris

When I said pilot house, I meant a CC but with a fully enclosed helm.

like this:

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

Now i understand,
but as Everglades eliminated this model it from their lineup i guess it was not a huge success.
As i wrote, i could imagine that a closed cabin pilothouse like a Axopar, Nimbus or would be comfy here in winter to warm up, make lunch and stay with more than another person inside to wait till the rain stopped, but just to have a small closed steering station as in the picture above it would be of less use for me.
But i understand that it can be useful in much colder and wetter climates than here.
Chris

 

[JJF]

I was surpsied that Edgewater and Everglades eliminated it from their lineups. I could have seen it being popular in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic here in the US. Ironically, Axopar and similar have become very popular.. I think if there were removable hard panels, it would be more popular. Also, add heat/ac and it could be a winner. It is possible that on larger models, it would be more desirable.

You and I both have 306 Canyons. Just imagine how roomy of an enclosed helm area we could have. Ditto for some of GW larger CCs.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

Yes, our Canyon could have a different layout with the steering station just where the front bench is what would make the enclosed helm area longer but eliminate the inside and lower console space with toilet and sink what some like including me even if i never use the toilet and probably pull it to make a rod storage rack instead.

Axopar, Targa, Nimbus and their brothers and sisters are very well designed boats with very well performing hulls and a big and useful cabin designed for the harsh weather from where they come from, so i am not at all surprised about their huge success. Not really the best design for surface trolling as cockpit space is limited but if i would buy a winter boat one of them would be my first choice.

I had a discussion in THT regarding pilot house boats where some claim that they are not hot inside in summer what i believe to be impossible, but never tried it.
The solution for the low airflow would be to make all windows same as car windows, to be able to lower them in summer and crank them up when weather becomes wet and/or cold.

It is my impression that GW main customers are families boating in calm, sunny and warm weather and living from NY south, but then there are also many hard core anglers like me (and probably you and many others here too) who enjoy the quality, comfort and ride of GW boats but still with a very high level of fishability.

Sure, if GW would design a real walk around pilot house around 35ft similar to Axopar, Targa, Nimbus it would be a very interesting boat for me and you,
but we are probably just a few out of the many who buy dual consoles for easy peasy cruising with family and friends.

Considering the prices of new GW's i guess that a new designed 35ft pilot house would cost about double of a European Pilot house and that will be a problem, unfortunately.

Chris

 

[Peter A]

Outta my price range by a long way and given the size of the boat not a big fishing cockpit but that is the DC design. Love that full windshield up to the hardtop.

 

[Ekea]

Better seating, more shade, family friendly. Fishing isn't the only reason to own a boat. I find that CCs separate people. You are either in the front or the back completely separated from each other. Different strokes.

we use our cc primarily for family cruising. two years in and havent fished once yet. me, wife, and two young daughters. we never feel separated as there is no full windshield dividing the front from the back and we can seat all 4 in the back (and another 2 with bean bags), we have enough shade (and can easily add a rear shade for less than $150 if needed) and could easily seat 9-10 people comfortably.