Question about the Tournament 275 - First Post!

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Gators2000

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Hello all! Great forum you have hear. Lots of good reading and information. This is my first post and hopefully many more to come...

My family and I are interested in the Tournament 275 DC. We do lots of fishing and lots of cruising (about 50/50) so a DC seems like a good choice. We had a smaller (22') dc before and liked the lay out very much, just needed something bigger and more capable of longer runs offshore. We then went to a 25' Center Console and while it was an awesome fishing boat, it left something to be desired in the eyes of the wife and kids for cruising. Sooooooo, back to a dc we go.

I'm considering a few brands but there is not many dc choices in this size range. I have no questions about the quality of GW as I'm very familiar and comfortable with them. My questions are specific to this model...

For those that fish:
How do you like the layout (understanding it's a dc of course)?
Are the fish boxes / live well functional?
How does it handle the open water? I fish in the GOM and we tend to see 2-3's with some 4's (sometimes worse but I stay home those days), pretty tight.
Any other thoughts on fishability?

For those that cruise:
How does it do with a boat full of "island hoppers?"
Plenty of storage?
Comfortable ride up front for intercoastal cruising?
Any other thoughts?

Regarding power:
I noticed this topic discussed at length... It seams the most popular options are twin 150's or single 350. I like the idea of only servicing one engine but the comfort of having two when 40+ miles offshore. I do like to fish in that range so I'm torn... What about 200's or 225's?

How does the boat do on a trailer? I have a Ford F250 4x4 diesel so I'm hoping I'm good there?

Anything else anyone can think of? I'm going to get my first look at one in person tomorrow so I'll have a better idea of what I think after that. Thanks in advance for any assistance.
 
Tashmoo is THE authority on this subject.

We sea trialled a Tournament 275 and loved everything about it using the criteria you mentioned. It will be our next boat when we move up from our Tournament 225.

We also migrated from a CC to a DC. The CC was the most uncomfortable boat design we ever owned. The crew was constantly crowded around the T-Top and holding on for stability. Very limited seating. Poor protection from the wind.
 
Gators 2000 - I purchased a 2010 Tournament 275 about a month ago (but will not have it splashed until next April). I moved up from a Seaswirl Striper 2101 DC. I love the dual console layout, although I hate to admit I don't fish (and may get kicked out of the Great Grady forum for saying that). What I can tell you is that I thoroughly researched every boat out there and found that there are only a few builders who make larger dual consoles. Grady White makes the two largest at 27' and 30'. Robalo makes a 24-1/2 as does Edgewater. There's also a Glacier Bay 2640 which is supposedly 28' (but I think that's measured to include an extra long swim platform). No offense to Glacier Bay - they are probably pretty good boats but they look like a pontoon boat to me. I looked seriously at the Robalo and the Edgewater and decided that neither was quite as good at the Tournament 275 (although both were good boats).

I struggled for the longest time with the power decision. One dealer tried to convince me of all of the benefits of the 350 including only one engine to maintain, advanced drive by wire technology, very low failure rate, better fuel economy, etc. My dealer told me that they have yet to sell a Grady in this size range (dual console, center console, walk around) with only a single 350 and that most of their customers (especially for the T275) chose the twin 150's. I actually spoke with a factory rep (they are really responsive) who told me that 75% of their boats in this size range (and the T275 in particular) ship with twin 150's and the balance with either the single 350, twin 200's or twin 250's. I also like the extra security of a second engine to get home (if needed). I realize that if I have a fuel problem I could lose both engines but hope that's unlikely. Also maneuvering in close quarters is definitely better with twins than a single (and many of the posts from people who went with the single talk about the challenges of close quarter maneuvering with the single). The 350 is a great engine, and I'm sure I would have been very happy with it. I spend most of my time at a mooring, so close quarters maneuvering is not at the top of my list (although when I go to a dock it certainly is). Although twin outboards won't spin a boat like twin inboards will, they give you more maneuverability than a single engine.

My dealer told me that the twin 200's or twin 250's don't add that much in performance (they do add something but not that much) because of the added weight of the six cylinder engines versus the four cylinder engines in the 150's. My dealer also told me that the 200's and 250's make the boat a little tail heavy.

I sea trialed the boat with twin 150's and it had more than enough get-up-and-go for me. I took it out in a reasonable chop and the boat handled beautifully. It was a big difference from my 21' in that the Grady has the SV2 hull and with full fuel tanks weighs about 7000 lbs (compared to my prior boat which was about 3500 lbs). I really liked the layout - it's a big boat (as I tell my friends, although it's only 6' longer than my 21', it's 30% longer).

I read every posting on every website and every review on the T275 before I bought it. I'm confident that I made the right decision.

Now the only problem is waiting until April to put it in the water. The current Grady Days promotion certainly helps with the extended Yamaha warranty and some money back from GW.

Good luck. I look forward to hearing back from you after you buy your T275.
 
goldman - Thanks for the reply.... Very good info. I still can get used to the idea of you guys up north putting a boat away until April ;)

I like your input on the power. I'm looking at it from the stand point of being offshore with one engine or two. I wonder if it would plane on one 150??? Anyone know???

I'll probably answer this question in a little while when I visit my dealer but… Anyone willing to give me an idea of what they ended up getting the 275 for??? With a 350? With twin 150’s??? I have a basic idea (from what the dealer is telling me) but would love some first hand knowledge.

Thanks again all…
 
Interesting that I spoke to someone at Baert in late August and their asking price was in the low $100,000+ range (the boat listed out to about $125,000 with options). They were offering about $20,000 off list in the first call (and probably could have gone lower if I was ready to buy from them). They seemed like a good dealer. My issues were (1) I didn't want the boat with the 350; and (2) they are outside my area as a dealer (and another dealer has my territory). Accordingly they said that they couldn't sell to me because of overlapping territories.

If you could get it for $88,000 that would be a steal! The list price with standard options (without hardtop) is $130,000 before the Grady Days promotion.
 
I just got back from looking at the 275 in person at my local dealer. It had all the standard options and was powered with a 350. It had no hard top but everything else we would want.

They are asking 109k but basically told me (in not so many words) that I could get it for about 90-93k ish. I would need to have an aftermarket top put on and I was really leaning toward twins. But, I'm considering it.

I'm also thinking of ordering one and setting it up the way I want it. I think I would go with 225's and a hard top.

I'm going to look at a World Cat 290 Dual Console next week to compare but that boat is going to be substantially more and probably out of my range. Anyway, thanks to all for the information and please keep it coming if you think of any other info I might like to have...
 
Gators:

Wow, great price! IMHO you do not need a hard top for a 275. It looks terrific without a hard top. The Vista top with curtains are all you need and not even that most for the time. We currently have a Vista top on our Tournament and have used in only once since we bought the boat! You can always get a hard top later if you really need it. The price you were quoted is very attractive. Offer in the $80s and I bet the boat is yours. The Yamaha outboards are very dependable (as are all modern day outboards) so two engines are somewhat old school. We use Sea Tow as a back up which gives us the insurance we need.

Did you sea trial the 275?
 
striped bass said:
Gators:

Wow, great price! IMHO you do not need a hard top for a 275. It looks terrific without a hard top. The Vista top with curtains are all you need and not even that most for the time. We currently have a Vista top on our Tournament and have used in only once since we bought the boat! You can always get a hard top later if you really need it. The price you were quoted is very attractive. Offer in the $80s and I bet the boat is yours. The Yamaha outboards are very dependable (as are all modern day outboards) so two engines are somewhat old school. We use Sea Tow as a back up which gives us the insurance we need.

Did you sea trial the 275?
Click to expand...

Here is FL you have to have some shade and I am not a fan of the bimini / vista tops. I am having the dealer get me a quote on putting an aftermatket top on it. It is a must for us.

I have not trialed it yet. Hopefully, I will in the next week after we discuss the numbers a little more. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for the info.
 
Our local dealer has a 275 that I suspect they are anxious to sell. I believe the boat is an '09. Someone ordered it pretty well decked-out with twin F250s and a hard top then changed their mind.

Dealer is Mariner Marine in Riviera Beach, FL. I do not know what they're asking for the boat but I know they have had it for awhile.

Rob
 
wahoo33417 said:
Our local dealer has a 275 that I suspect they are anxious to sell. I believe the boat is an '09. Someone ordered it pretty well decked-out with twin F250s and a hard top then changed their mind.

Dealer is Mariner Marine in Riviera Beach, FL. I do not know what they're asking for the boat but I know they have had it for awhile.

Rob
Click to expand...

Thanks Rob, I will definately check into this.
 
Gators2000, the 275 for the use you described is a fantastic option. I have a 2008, 275 with an F350, no hard top, 270 hours and have the same use blend. I really like the boat for fishing (mostly saltwater fly fishing some Tuna) and it performs exceptionally during family time.

For fishing it is very functional especially when you leave the Bimini top at the dock as you can walk a fish from bow to stern. The fish boxes are more than adequate from my point of view. As for storage, I have found there to be enough. One huge negative is that there is no tackle storage on this boat. A Grady with no tackle storage????? I voiced this complaint to GW and got nowhere.

The boat does very well in rough water and is dry in most every case that I have put mine in. I was in close cycle 4-6' seas, it was not a lot of fun but the boat performed well and I felt confident in its ability. Handling at slow speed, the boat wanders a lot so you have to be on it all the time. At speed the vee is such that the boat at times knife edges back and forth but this is easily cleaned up with the tabs. Backing the boat into the slip took some work to learn what works and what does not. I finally figured out how to dock it consistently with wind.

As for power, I have a single F350 and love it. I had no desire for twins and do not subscribe to the argument of having a back up if one fails as most failures are due to fuel issues, but that is my opinion. I found that the F350 was $3,000 less money, 3+MPH faster, gives better mileage and is one less engine to take care of. As for the option of 200, 225 or 250's I found the following. Twin 200's performance is no better than twin 150's, the gain in HP is lost to weight. Twin 225's are a modest improvement in performance over the twin 150's and very close to the single 350 at a big premium. The only twin combo that make sense to me over the baseline twin 150's are twin 250's. Performance would be well over 50MPH and you would have the advantage of twins. The weight would be a concern to me, squatting the stern, and the cost premium of +/-$12K is a real question.

To me the bottom line for power is twin 150' or the single 350. In my case the 350 won. Check the performance of the Chase 273 for the performance of the twin 200, 225 & 250 and compare the performance of the twin 150's for both the 273 and 275 to establish a performance baseline for the comparative performance of the boats.

As for trailering, I do not do much with mine but will say with a triple axel trailer it pulls just fine but it is a big load behind a Chevy 2500 HD. Twin axel would have been fine but in the brand I purchased the triple was necessary for weight.

If you go with the 350 PM me for some very specific issues with the engine tilt and the lower unit staying water all the time.

I have included pics of the boat on a trailer. PM me if you have specific questions.


Boat%20on%20trailer%20with%20cover%20II.JPG


IMG_3954l-copy.jpg
 
Thank you Tashmoo... THis is the kind of info I knew I would get from this forum. I'll keep everyone posted as to our decisions.
 
Go Gators!

Welcome aboard sir! Love your handle! Respect your comment about the CC. I myself have been a victim of an onboard drowning in the Gulf. I love my walkaround but those Grady DC's look to be the best of both worlds.
 
Gators2000, two comments I did not make and meant to. If you can buy from your local dealer do it. If you buy elsewhere and have a problem you might be SOL particularly if you have a marginal issue with respect to warranty. If your problem requires dealer support and you buy outside of your area, your local dealer will have no incentive to help you with issues that are at the margins and many warranty issues fall into that category.

Second, unless you are rolling in $$$ and this is a pack of gum level purchase, buy exactly what you want and order it from the factory. Ten grand saved by buying a compromise will be lost the day you sign the papers. In my younger years I have made the huge mistake of making a major purchase on price and convinced myself that the trade off was worth the money, IT NEVER WAS AND NEVER WILL BE!! Every time I regretted the purchase, every time. The argument that you can have an option added aftermarket is a nonstarter, period. From my experience 95% of aftermarket work is sub quality to the factory and if you add for example an aftermarket hard top you lose your factory warranty, which is no savings.

This is a purchase that you will only make a few times in your life if you are a normal working stiff like most of us are, buy what keeps you up at night thinking, anything else will be a regret.
 
Tashmoo - Excellent advice / point... In the back of my mind, I had been thinking that I should just order it exactly like I want and not settle but kept convincing myself I could live with what they had for the savings.

You're right though. I need to search out and get exactly what I want. Thanks again and if anyone else has any other helpful info, please share.
 
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