Fishing boats have to be more than casting platforms, livewells and fish boxes. Today's boating family doesn't confine itself to inshore or offshore fishing. In fact, they might decide they don't want to fish at all on any given boating Saturday. That's what GradyWhite had in mind when it designed its first Coastal Explorer, the 251 CE, nearly 10 years ago. It's been so successful, we wondered why Grady-White waited so long to bring out the larger 281.
The 281 CE is 27 feet, 7 inches in length with a 9-foot-4-inch beam and designed to run nicely on a single Yamaha XTO 450 or dual 300s. Our test boat sported the latter (an approximately $30,000 upgrade with full maneuverability), and it's exactly how we'd equip it. Here's why: First, there is the redundancy factor; if one engine goes down, there's a second to get you home. Second, with dual engines you get joystick maneuvering and all the FishPoint and StayPoint features. And when equipped with full maneuverability, Yamaha's engines provide an autopilot experience that is hard to beat. Garmin's system with GN+ charting and Yamaha engines make it easy to set an auto route for a complicated course between two points. It is so sophisticated, it will decelerate, stop and engage StayPoint right over the waypoint, holding the boat in place while anglers ready the lines. Single and dual setups both reward the owner with top speeds that exceed 50 mph.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1682324473/articles/Gs0BB_zok1682416604238/pJwBNm-c_1682416681479.jpg]
Once the 281 gets you offshore, dual shotgun rod holders and dual gunwale rod holders hold your quiver of sticks. Two shotgun rod holders double as stanchion sockets for the optional seatback. There are a pair of rod holders forward as well, should you choose to use them. The hardtop is built and reinforced to accept outriggers. Four rocket launchers on the hardtop and four in the back of the standard lean bar-or an optional elite leaning post with fully adjustable luxury seats with bolsters and armrests ($6,050)-keep other rods handy, and both add a 38-gallon livewell, rigging sink and pullout shower. We found convenient tackle compartments in the front and back of the leaning post.
The fish boxes are under the forward seating and drain overboard. The second (18-gallon) livewell in the aft platform can double as another fish box, but we see inshore anglers using it for crabs or shrimp. Lastly, if you really plan to load the boat, there's a double forward lounge with an insulated storage box beneath. Like every other compartment, it drains overboard.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1682324473/articles/Gs0BB_zok1682416604238/5639415491.jpg]
The cockpit is roomy for a crossover, whether you want to cruise and snorkel or haul in a trophy fish. For an inshore day, the aft cockpit offers a casting deck. The convertible port and starboard seatbacks swing outward to create leaning bolsters to add stability when casting. The optional center seatback cushion ($1,135) can be removed and stowed. The foredeck offers vast casting space by joining the forward lounge ...
The 281 CE is 27 feet, 7 inches in length with a 9-foot-4-inch beam and designed to run nicely on a single Yamaha XTO 450 or dual 300s. Our test boat sported the latter (an approximately $30,000 upgrade with full maneuverability), and it's exactly how we'd equip it. Here's why: First, there is the redundancy factor; if one engine goes down, there's a second to get you home. Second, with dual engines you get joystick maneuvering and all the FishPoint and StayPoint features. And when equipped with full maneuverability, Yamaha's engines provide an autopilot experience that is hard to beat. Garmin's system with GN+ charting and Yamaha engines make it easy to set an auto route for a complicated course between two points. It is so sophisticated, it will decelerate, stop and engage StayPoint right over the waypoint, holding the boat in place while anglers ready the lines. Single and dual setups both reward the owner with top speeds that exceed 50 mph.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1682324473/articles/Gs0BB_zok1682416604238/pJwBNm-c_1682416681479.jpg]
Once the 281 gets you offshore, dual shotgun rod holders and dual gunwale rod holders hold your quiver of sticks. Two shotgun rod holders double as stanchion sockets for the optional seatback. There are a pair of rod holders forward as well, should you choose to use them. The hardtop is built and reinforced to accept outriggers. Four rocket launchers on the hardtop and four in the back of the standard lean bar-or an optional elite leaning post with fully adjustable luxury seats with bolsters and armrests ($6,050)-keep other rods handy, and both add a 38-gallon livewell, rigging sink and pullout shower. We found convenient tackle compartments in the front and back of the leaning post.
The fish boxes are under the forward seating and drain overboard. The second (18-gallon) livewell in the aft platform can double as another fish box, but we see inshore anglers using it for crabs or shrimp. Lastly, if you really plan to load the boat, there's a double forward lounge with an insulated storage box beneath. Like every other compartment, it drains overboard.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1682324473/articles/Gs0BB_zok1682416604238/5639415491.jpg]
The cockpit is roomy for a crossover, whether you want to cruise and snorkel or haul in a trophy fish. For an inshore day, the aft cockpit offers a casting deck. The convertible port and starboard seatbacks swing outward to create leaning bolsters to add stability when casting. The optional center seatback cushion ($1,135) can be removed and stowed. The foredeck offers vast casting space by joining the forward lounge ...
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Boating (Digital) - 1 Issue, May 2023