39 Grand Banks Eastbay SX

Source: Tom Thompson, Sea Magazine

New take on an old classic was 10 years coming — and worth the wait

If there’s one boat nameplate that evokes classic style, it’s Grand Banks. Since the company launched its Eastbay series a decade ago, the Downeast-style express cruiser has carried on the tradition. So why would you change an icon?

The new 39 Eastbay SX is an evolutionary update to the popular 38 Eastbay. The recognizable lines are still there, but they’re softer and more contemporary. Subtle curves appear in the superstructure instead of hard edges and angles. Those graceful, sweeping lines are a hint of what’s inside — a tasteful blend of wood, fabric and leather that’s an exceptionally comfortable living space for a cruising couple.

Inside-Out
The slightly larger dimensions of the 39 Eastbay SX are put to good use in the cabin. For salon seating, you can choose between an L-shaped settee that runs along the port and aft, or a shortened version that makes room for an optional second Stidd captain’s chair, designed to match the one at the helm. Sight lines from any seat in the salon are excellent. Fresh air is abundant too, with a windshield center section that opens, sliding glass panels on both sides, a pair of hatches overhead and a large sliding door to the cockpit.

A wood table with fold-out leaves serves the settee, and there’s a chart table on the port side for a work surface. Along the starboard side, behind the helm, there’s a wet bar that tops off a storage cabinet extending to the cockpit door. I thought the curved, leather-covered door beneath the stainless steel sink was very attractive.

The helm is elegant in its simplicity. The uncluttered look has gauges centered on a wood-framed panel in front of the steering wheel, while another wood panel above has space for a large-screen electronics display, with room leftover for a couple of smaller accessories.

The old 38 Eastbay had a sailboat-like companionway that led to the galley and the staterooms. This is gone on the 39. Now, the galley is open to the salon as well as to daylight pouring in from the windshield above. A U-shaped settee with a dining table is located to port and converts to a berth when needed. The galley, on the starboard side, features a Corian countertop and includes a two-burner electric stove, an under-counter refrigerator/freezer and a microwave oven.

The master stateroom, complete with roomy storage space in the lockers as well as ample drawers, has a queen berth on the centerline. There’s good cross-ventilation from the port lights in the trunk cabin and the overhead hatch. The head compartment, located just aft of the galley, has an enclosed shower with a clear, circular doorway. This is a big improvement over the wet head on the 38. A VacuFlush toilet comes standard, and the built-in vanity cabinet also features a Corian countertop.

See How She Runs
Traditionalists may scoff at going fast, but the 39 Eastbay SX can move out smartly if you want to do so. She has 1,000 horses under the hood in the pair of Yanmar 6CXM-GTE2 diesels. Cruising speed for this power package is in the high 20-knot range, and she tops out at 32. The cruising fuel burn is just above 20 gallons per hour.

The C. Raymond Hunt-designed hull got on plane quickly, and acceleration was smooth through the entire power curve. Sea conditions were bumpy on test day, but we were comfortable and dry inside the enclosed cabin; the wide bow flare deflected spray from the windshield very well. The boat tracked through the waves without wavering and had very little lean doing tight turns at cruising speed.

The 39 Eastbay SX is a skillful blend of old and new. Grand Banks has successfully updated a classic with modern amenities, and though it took a decade to make the change, it was worth the wait.