47 FB Grand Banks Eastbay

Source: John Shinnick, Sea Magazine

Form follows function in the latest incarnation of this classic

There is a classic Grand Banks look, a style that spawned an entire industry of knockoffs. Many of those copies — which date to the OPEC embargo of the early 1970s — never capture the true look and feel of a traditional Grand Banks.

Shifting from the wooden hulls of the company’s early days, the wood used on today’s Grand Banks boats has dwindled to elements of trim and flooring in high traffic areas, contrasting with modern fiberglass to produce beautiful results.

I boarded the Eastbay 47 at Vancouver, British Columbia’s Coal Harbour. The boat had been in town for a recent floating show, having run up from Seattle at an average speed of 20 knots, a level of performance that has come to be expected of the Eastbay, Grand Banks’ performance line.

The boat is accessed across a traditional teak swimgrid, and the aft deck is entered through a transom gate onto a sole of teak and Thiokol (a polysulfide sealant).

To port, a striking spiraled teak and fiberglass staircase corkscrews up to the flybridge, while to starboard, a Miele electric barbecue hides beneath a Corian lid in a louvered cabinet.

Teak flooring and teak steps look nice on the aft deck, while serving a purpose in high-wear areas. The overhang from the upper deck provides living space up top, while sheltering the doorway to the saloon below.

Despite the 47-foot length and 15-foot beam, everything about the Eastbay feels intimate, and every square inch serves to make the boat work better.

The Design
This hull was designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates of Boston. It grew out of that firm’s work on pilot boats and other heavy-weather vessels.

In profile, the 47 reflects its handsome, rugged pedigree, but this is no workboat. It is, in every sense, a yacht, civilized with navy blue fiberglass, tamed with teak trim and rendered low-maintenance with wash-and-wear fiberglass.

Beneath the waterline is a proven hull whose fine bow and 19-degree deadrise (aft) share more with hard-working traditional pilot boats or Downeast lobster boats than other modern power yachts.

The hand-laid fiberglass hull — guaranteed for five years — is laid up on a stiff grid of foam-cored girders. A solid fiberglass schedule was used below the waterline, and lightweight foam above.

Down Under
A flip of a switch on the aft deck sets a hydraulic lifter in motion to raise the saloon steps, allowing access to the engines.

A pair of 700 hp Cats dominate this space and draw their sustenance from almost every tube or wire in sight.

The engines rest on foam girders that are part of the grid. The mounts screw directly into a steel plate via threaded bolts, fully integrating the mounting system and making it about as strong as anything in the industry.

Nowhere else is the intimate nature of this boat more evident than here in the engine room. This is a brightly illuminated work area with a teak-slat walkway just above the bilge. What it lacks in headroom (about 5 feet, 10 inches) this engine room makes up in hardware accessibility.

A bank of battery boxes to starboard is probably the only attempt Grand Banks has made to conceal hardware in the engine room. All of the wiring and tubing is in plain view to be quickly inspected or accessed.

A master fuel tank lies forward of the diesels, while a smaller day tank has been situated in the lazarette beneath the aft deck. Banks of fuel filters and the battery boxes are located immediately to starboard, while electricals are installed on the bulkheads at eye level. A platform, wiring, a seacock and a strainer have been installed for a reverse-osmosis water-maker, which can be added later.

Get Comfortable
Two steps take you up from the aft deck into the saloon through a sliding door.

Here, teak and holly are used underfoot, while traditional teak paneling adds warmth to the vertical surfaces.

Two barrel chairs to starboard and a large settee to port accommodate up to eight adults. A large high-low table with fold-out leaves doubles as a day table or dining table. Large windows allow light and an expansive view of the water.

The lower helm station lies to starboard with an access door to the sidedecks. This station is comfortable, with a Stidd armchair and everything laid out to be read at a glance. A raised panel contains the VHF, as well as screens for the chart plotter and the sounder. There’s plenty of room for add-ons. Standards include digital panels for the Cats and Twin Disk two-station electronic shifters.

Four steps take you from the saloon down into the galley, another highly functional and intimate space.

This galley is designed for one person to work comfortably without having to reach. Everything is at hand, and food preparation under way should be a breeze.

The Force 10 propane stove with oven is concealed beneath a drop-down panel that adds work space to the fiddled countertop. The drapes above the stove have been treated with fire retardant.

A box freezer set into the counter is a retro touch that works well when preparing meals under way. A large half-size refrigerator opens beneath the counter.

Across from the galley is a small office/stateroom with a computer desk and a pull-out double berth for guests. A sliding door provides privacy for this area.

Just ahead of the galley is a guest head with a shower, a sink and a marine toilet.

The owner’s stateroom in the bow features a walk-around bed, a hanging locker and additional storage, including two drawers beneath the bed.

An overhead safety hatch provides light and fresh air to the walk-around bed.

The owner’s stateroom also has its own head with a Corian countertop, a molded sink and a stylish teak-trimmed curved shower door.

Exterior
The flybridge, accessed through that spiral staircase from the aft deck, has two buttery-soft Stidd chairs and a stainless steel destroyer-style wheel. A large Venturi screen runs around the dash, a Bimini top provides overhead sun protection and storm cloths dampen the effects of the wind.

A large part of the functionality of this boat comes into play when it is being docked or anchored. It is easy to move from stern to bow when handling lines or fenders.

In fact, the sidedecks, handrails, grabrails and ground tackle system are all set up to make the boat manageable by two people.

Under Way
We took the 47 out of Coal Harbour on a fall day, passing under the Lions Gate Bridge into English Bay, thrashing through the wake of a large inbound freighter and a yacht. With light tanks and four adult males aboard, it topped out at 30 knots (2,300 rpm). The power in those Cats provides a large range of cruising speeds with this hull. You can take your pick to suit the load and sea state.

This package should work all day at 20 knots at 1,800 rpm. At 1,500 rpm, it is comfortably on plane and turning in speeds of 14 knots.

Happy Cruising
This is a serious coaster with enough punch to cross open water when needed, and the accommodations to make the stay luxurious in any anchorage.