Grand Banks Aleutian RP

Source: Rick Huckstepp, Boatpoint Magazine

In the world of classical nautical opulence, Grand Banks needs no introduction. Since the first models that were produced in Hong Kong in the 60’s, they have been the showcase for luxury and quality workmanship with style.

LIKES
– There is everything to like about this boat. The quality of workmanship in joinery and finish is exemplary.
– High roof in the walk through engine room is an asset.
– Agility on the water belies its mass.

DISLIKES
– Try as we did, we couldn’t fault this boat

OVERVIEW
With their beginnings in Hong Kong, Grand Banks made a transition to Singapore while building a second factory in Malaysia 15 years ago. One by one over the ensuing years, production of models was shifted to Malaysia until last year when the entire operation declared that country their base.

With Australian dealership issues looming, Grand Banks established their own factory dealership at Hope Island and from there we took the 53 Aleutian RP for appraisal.

LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION
The rear deck of the 53 is a roomy affair and totally shaded by the overhanging hard top. It is fenced in by a full beam bulkhead with entry door and a large full beam boarding platform with stanchion fence across its rear at a lower level aft.

One of the access points to the engine room is via the deck here and the other through the thwart-berth cabin below. An effective soundproof door was fitted between the two.

Dual sliding doors open to the saloon which features leather lounges down the port and starboard sides, the latter with an end seat against the back wall of the galley.

Stepping up to the next level an island module holds the galley sink and preparation area with refrigeration below while behind, four large crockery and pan draws are in the face of another unit that hosts the oven and cooktop. The bench tops are granite and above the latter unit a row of cupboards will hold other items such as cups and condiments. There certainly is no shortage of cupboard storage space here.

The dining area sits on the port side of the central helm. It is in a ‘C’ shape and upholstered in plush leather. Good all-round views are available to the skipper with the three front window panes each serviced by a wiper.

Heading down the curved stair case that is starboard of the helm, one arrives at a companionway and the doorway to the double-bunk crew quarters. Moving forward, the head for the crew is opposite and slightly forward, and further forward one enters the stateroom that is serviced by its own head and ablution area.

The berth in the stateroom has step-up access each side with the head of the berth tucked into the ‘V’ of the bow. There are ample nooks and crannies about the timber work and plush upholstered wall panels disperse the heavy look of timber.

About mid ships on this level, aft of the stairwell, a thwart double berth is against the port side of the hull and its ensuite is directly opposite, almost the same width of the cabin it services. It is a large airy amenity.

The bench top hosting the vanity basin is huge and the head is situated at one end of this elongated room and the show alcove with corian floor, at the other.

Aft of this mid-ship cabin a louvre door opens to a lower level which is where the laundry would be situated. The review boat was fitted with a Waeco CF110 as a backup fridge/freezer and this was installed here under a lift-top bench. Other cupboards lined both sides of the companionway and they are modified to suit the type of washer and dryer the customer prefers. As reviewed, there were no laundry appliances installed.

Up on the bridge, it’s party central! The aft end of the deck here is the overhang for the cockpit below and has a high surrounding fence rail. A stair case from the cockpit deck is one avenue of access while another is to the port of the helm and both have transparent sliding or fold-down hatches for security and safety.

A tender can be mounted on the V-rack fitted to the deck and a davit on the port side will swing it over the side.

A partial galley separates the helm area from the rear overhang. It had a plumbed sink and the area under lid for the installation of a cooker or barbecue.

It featured ample cupboard space for gas bottle installation and for glasses and cutlery.

The forward side of the galley formed part of the L-shaped lounge on the portside while a straight lounge with an aft end was situated opposite. Bulk stowage areas are found below the seat cushions.

While the helm was neatly laid out, the large brow in front of the skipper had ample room for the largest of electronic cabinets. Forward of the centrally located helm station a reverse wind deflector is fitted with a large expanse of fibreglass in between.

MECHANICAL AND HULL
The 53RP is stacked with quality equipment from the keel line up.

The engine room is walk through with good head height so no stooping is required to maintain checks on water separators and L-cocks.

A pair of Cummins QSM 11, 715 engines produce 705hp at 2500 rpm and are coupled to ZF 325 IV gear boxes with a ratio of 2.417:1. They drive four blade 34-inch propellers with a pitch of 31-inches.

Power supply is via a 21.5kW Onan marine generator which at half load consumes 0.6 US gallons per hour.

The hull is hand-laid fibreglass and that which sits below the water line is solid fibreglass. Above the boot stripe the panels are cored using Airex cross-linked closed-cell foam and a vacuum bagging process is used in the construction to improve strength.

During construction clear gelcoat is used in that ‘below waterline’ part of the hull to enhance visual inspection for quality control purposes. This section also gets three layers of epoxy barrier coat to retard osmosis.

ON THE WATER
Taking the 53 out through The Seaway at the Gold Coast we were met with a mild swell of just over a metre running at angles across these gentle undulations proved to be a good indicator of how well the Naiad Multisea 11 stabiliser system worked. Activation of these hydraulic stabilisers was a silent affair but one was instantly aware they were in play as the gentle roll of the hull was noticeably stymied. Each of these stabilising wings covered an area of 7.5 square feet.

Under throttle, the boat exhibited excellent acceleration, and engine reaction to the throttles throughout the range was immediate with no lag.

Manoeuvrability at sea was also excellent with the boat able to turn nearly in its own length.

The standard bow thruster assisted during docking.

Ambient noise levels in the bridge were quite low and down in the saloon were also acceptable when at cruise speed with minimal mechanical vibration travelling though the saloon and quarters below.

At 2500 rpm the 53 reaches its maximum speed of 22.70 knots and back at a cruise rpm of 2000, the GPS indicated just over 18 knots.

The manufacturer states a cruise of 17.2 knots @ 2100 rpm will give the boat a range of 319nm which is a total fuel consumption of 10.7 litres per nautical mile. This equates to 91 litres per hour per engine.

At full throttle that will jump to 142 litres per hour per engine bringing the boat range back to 270 nm with total fuel consumption being 12.6 litres per nautical mile.

While the 53RP holds those classical lines it is quite agile on the water. It is built as solid as it looks and performs very comfortably.

Boat Specifications: Grand Banks Aleutian RP

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.7/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.7/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.9/4.0
Value for money: 4.7/5.0

X-factor: 4.5/5.0

LOA: 17.96m (58’ 11”)
Beam: 5.41m ( 17’ 9”)
Draft: 1.45m (4’ 9”)
Weight: 29,484 kg unloaded
Engines: Cummins QSM 11 715HP x 2
Water: 1,136 litres
Black tank: 379 litres
Grey tank: 197 litres
Fuel: 3,785 litres
Berths: 6
People Day: 14