Eric Hicks and Kevin Hicks Dad and Kevin here is a nice write up on our Grady white Grady-White Explorer 24 Posted: February 1, 1992 A smooth operator for serious anglers By: BoatingWorld Staff The Grady-White name conjures up images of resolute anglers meeting the challenge of the open ocean in small, seaworthy boats. When the company began building boats more than three decades ago, Grady-White made wooden lapstrake models known mainly by boaters along the southeastern seaboard. Today, its boats have technically advanced fiberglass hulls and are known around the world as reliable, high-quality vessels. The companys latest model, the Explorer 24 sportfisher, is the first of eight Grady-White models to incorporate a new hull design, called SeaV2. The SeaV2 moniker identifies a continuous variable-V hull now used on offshore models from 22 to 28 feet in length. According to Scott Schock of Schock Boats in Newport Beach, California, who provided our test boat, this hull design differs from the usual deep-V geometry. It begins with a 20 degree deadrise at the transom and sharpens to 56 degrees at the bow. Unlike most deep or modified-V hulls, the angle does not remain the same from one section to the next. This design gives a finer bow angle for a soft entry, along with improved tracking and stability. It also provides a drier ride because of the wide, flat chines, Schock said. The flat chines also make it a more stable boat when trolling or at anchor. Grady-White designers have given the SeaV2 hull a straight line from the keel to the chine that is interrupted only by the strakes. Instead of the usual convex curve between the stakes, especially in the bow section of most V-hulls, the SeaV2 hulls is flat, to provide more lift. The Explorer 24s SeaV2 hull performs exactly as the designers promise. In sea conditions of low ground swells and a light chop, it planes quickly and provides a smooth, dry ride. Running over the top of a wave at over 40 knots or in a tight turn, it provides the stability of a considerably larger and heavier boat. Our test boat was powered by the new 250 hp Yamaha V76X outboard, which Yamaha calls the most advanced outboard ever built. The engine is narrower, because the cylinders are offset at 76 degrees instead of the usual 90 degrees. It has been designed for offshore use, Schock explained. Although several other power options are available, including a stern drive, none could be safer than the outboard. Standard fuel capacity is 93 gallons, optional capacity is 148 gallons and fuel tanks are built in. With the fuel tanks sealed in the hull and the engine mounted off the transom, an on-board fire sure isnt likely, Schock said. It also isnt likely any skipper would have trouble operating the boat with the Yamaha engine package. The single lever throttle/gear control has a thumb-actuated switch for engine trim and tilt, which allows the skipper to adjust both boat speed and engine angle simultaneously. This lets the skipper keep both hands on the wheel and the throttle. Excellent instrumentation is provided, including a digital speedometer that reads in knots and mph, trip meter, clock, fuel gauge, engine temperature warning, battery voltage meter and low fuel warning indicator. The digital tachometer display module also includes an engine trim indicator and oil level warning light. With the Yamaha engine package, all of the gauges and controls are standard, along with a stainless steel prop in the pitch of your choice, Schock said. They also have a standard two-year warranty, which is the longest in the industry. Not to be out-done, Grady-White offers a five-year limited warranty on all its 1992 models, but the boats are built so tough, you may never need it. The construction methods used are state-of-the-art. The polyester resin for each boat is metered out by computer in the exact amount needed for strength and flexibility, Schock said. The resin is squeegeed by hand into the fiberglass mat and roving for uniform thickness. Even the insides of hatch covers and boxes are fully finished with resin, leaving no glass cloth exposed to collect dirt and mildew. Grady-White uses eggshell-colored gelcoat on all its boats, because it is less prone to oxidizing and isnt as blinding as white, Schock said. The company uses a higher grade of stainless steel for its deck hardware than the 308 grade found on most boats. All Grady White boats cleats, stanchions, rod holders, and rails are 316 stainless steel, which has a higher nickel and chromium content to resist rusting. All hardware is bolted through decks or bulkheads and fastened with aircraft-type locking nuts. Boating safety is a high priority. Grady-White not only uses enough foam flotation inside each hull to make its boats unsinkable, it also designs each boat to be self-bailing. To make sure the only sea water aboard is in the bait tank, electric bilge pumps are provided fore and aft. The flotation foam also acts as a sound and heat insulator. It gets rid of those oil can sounds in the hull and reduces the mildew aboard, Schock said. The layout of the Explorer 24 is well suited for sportfishing. The 43 square foot cockpit is large and uncluttered, but still offers seating for six anglers and storage for their gear. Under one seat is an optional 26 gallon live bait tank, and beneath another is a 47 gallon fish box. The other seats conceal batteries, a fuel tank selector and a tackle box. Anglers can keep fishing, even on a tossing deck, by tucking their toes under the rail provided just above deck height and keeping their knees against the padded cockpit gunwales. Anglers can follow hooked fish to the bow safely and easily, thanks to the Explorer 24s walk-around decks. The small cabin on this Grady-White contains a double V-berth, a sink with a 10 gallon freshwater tank and a marine head compartment. It is basic, but comfortable. A Bimini hardtop with side curtains, a factory-installed option on our test boat, is well worth considering. It not only provides shade in the summer and shelter in the winter, it offers additional mounting surfaces for rod holders and an overhead electronics box. Perhaps the best features of the Explorer 24 are the intangibles. Grady-White owners tend to move up to bigger Grady-Whites because of the companys excellent customer service, and because of the boats consistently high resale value, Schock said. The stable, but soft-riding Explorer 24 proves that after more than 30 years, Grady-White is still building seaworthy boats that expertly handle the challenge of the open ocean. - See more at: boatingworld/Archive/Grady-White-Explorer-24#sthash.qkKTaUIY.dpuf
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 00:57:49 +0000
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