GRAND BANKS 43 EASTBAY
BUILT: 2001 PRICE: £249,995
LOA: 43ft 2in (13.2m) Beam: 13ft 2in (4.0m) Draught: 3ft 8in (1.1m) Displacement: 12.1 tonnes Fuel capacity: 2,270 litres Engines: Twin Caterpillar 3208TA 425hp diesel
FOR SALE: One Marine www.onemarine.co.uk
American Marine built its first Grand Banks back in 1966 in Hong Kong. A traditional and very high quality aft cabin trawler yacht, it set a pattern that remained unchanged through a plethora of models for decades. The Eastbay series, built in Malaysia, began in 1995 as a way of introducing stylish (yet still traditional) aft cockpit cruisers to the range that riffed off the Grand Banks reputation for high quality, solid boat building.
INTERIOR
Grand Banks is very open to customisation, happy to allow clients to make some fairly substantial layout alterations. It’s why the boat we tested back in 1999 had the galley on the main deck and vee berths in the forward cabin. This particular boat is far more typical of the standard layout, with two cabins (the master cabin forward featuring a double berth) and the galley on the lower deck, freeing up space for a more sociable saloon on the main deck.
EXTERIOR
The teak-laid side decks edged by a beautiful sweep of varnished teak toe rail epitomise this boat, just as they do on the traditional Grand Banks trawler yachts – this is a very easy boat to move around on. Access to the flybridge is via a traditional ladder but it’s worth the climb to enjoy the two big captain’s chairs plus further seating on the high sided and well sheltered upper deck.
PERFORMANCE
We achieved 24 knots when we tested the Eastbay 43 but that was with smaller 375hp Caterpillars and imperfect props. This boat has 425hp so expect high twenties. But the reality is that most people will cruise at 20 knots, a pace at which it is very comfortable.
SEAKEEPING
Ray Hunt was, along with Sonny Levi, credited with inventing the deep vee planing hull concept in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and although he died in 1978, his business C. Raymond Hunt Associates continues to this day and includes Grand Banks in its portfolio. At sea the Eastbay has a reassuringly solid feel with a leisurely motion.