The design team at Grady-White has a knack for taking great boats and making them even better. When they introduce a feature that becomes a customer must-have, the designers will roll out the same touches on other models across the lineup. The Freedom 345 is a great example, combining the comfort and style of the Freedom 415 with the fishability of the Canyon 456 in a slightly smaller package.
“We recognized our customers’ strong desire for top-of-the-line design details, which we noted in their reaction to the Canyon 456, 386 and Freedom 415. With this in mind, we made sure to include similar amenities while planning the 345,” says Grady-White Product Designer Christian Carraway. “This results in a truly remarkable boat that we’re sure is going to delight the most discerning customer, particularly those who love to entertain family and friends as much as they enjoy a day of offshore fishing.”
Grady’s Freedom dual console feels like an express-style boat from the helm aft, yet offers easy access to the bow, which is loaded with seating and entertaining options. The bow layout can be arranged as a sunpad, dinette or casting area. And when it’s time to drop the hook, you can slide the dinette table down and walk all the way to the forward bulkhead, making the task safer and easier.
The large windshield is impressive in several ways. Forward, there are no gaps between the glass and the hardtop, so there’s no need for canvas to protect the operator. An electro-mechanically operated center vent lets in fresh air with the push of a button.
A robust door in the center of the windshield provides unfettered walkthrough access to the bow, and you can run the boat with the door safely locked in the open position without worrying about it crashing closed as you come off a wave. Keeping the door open gives passengers the feel of an open boat, a treat on those long summer days, but shutting it at cruise speed creates a quiet, climate-controlled area out of the weather that doubles as a salon with plenty of seating for passengers.
One of the beauties of the dual console layout is having two separate cabins. The 345’s port cabin is outfitted with a plush settee that transforms into a berth with the push of a button. The filler slides from centerline toward the hull side, making it much easier to cozy up for a nap. There’s also a television, microwave, switch panel and storage. Grady-White incorporated a high level of fit and finish into the cabin space, with wood cabinetry and accent lighting. The cabin does not feel cramped thanks to a skylight and window that let in natural light. The top portion of the two-piece cabin door folds open like a hatch, and the door swings inward and out of the way when open. This creates wide sightlines for folks who want to retreat to the cabin but remain part of the conversation on deck.
The starboard cabin houses a sizeable, well-appointed head and the same natural oak accents and black countertops used in Grady’s flagship vessels.
Grady-White raised the wraparound dinette on the port side to improve visibility for guests who want to watch the horizon slip past the windows as they converse with the captain. There are cup holders and chargers all around.
The helm design also pulls from Grady-White’s flagship models. Flush-mounted, 19-inch Garmin MFDs are surrounded in plush, black material for a slick, functional look. The steering wheel, throttle controls and Yamaha Helm Master joystick are on the starboard side of the helm. A small cubby area next to the captain’s right arm is ideal for charging a phone or keeping a beverage close by. The sightlines are unobstructed, and it’s nice to be able to sit comfortably out of the elements with one other passenger as you put some water behind the transom.
If you don’t want to run the air conditioning, there are two hatches in the hardtop for air flow. The hardtop is illuminated with LEDs to create blue mood lighting. Or, you can switch on the direct lights to catch up on some reading. There is recessed horizontal rod storage in the hardtop and room for life jackets and other gear. A SureShade retractable awning covers the cockpit.
The cockpit easily transitions from an ideal spot for a family gathering to an offshore fishing space with room to troll the rip or place anglers along the gunwales to pitch baits. Heavy-duty port and starboard cockpit doors make boarding easy. You can also slide a trophy fish through one of those doors and onto the deck. I really like how Grady-White installed port and starboard fuel fills so you don’t have to run a fuel hose across the deck, which always seems to leave hard-to-clean black streaks on the nonskid surface.
The cockpit has a rigging station/wet bar with refrigerator, drawers, grill, freshwater sink and trash bin on the port side and an adjustable mezzanine seat to starboard. The inboard mezzanine seat acts like an electric recliner. You can slide the seat in and out to create more walking room in the cockpit when needed.
The transom houses a large refrigerator/freezer box for keeper fish or provisions. Hot- and cold-water hoses are right where you want them to shower off after a swim. A transom live well keeps baits close at hand, and Grady-White placed a cutting board on top of the port transom hatch so you have a nice spot for slicing up limes or cutting fresh bait.
The Freedom 345 rides Grady’s long-established SeaV2 hull shape. The boat is offered with triple 350-hp Yamahas or twin 450-hp XTO Offshore outboards. With the triple 350s, you’re looking at a top speed close to 49 knots and a 26-knot, 1.1-mpg cruise. Those who opt for twin 450s can expect a top end of 45 knots and a similar cruise with roughly the same fuel economy. The boat holds 293 gallons of fuel.
The thought that Grady-White put into the Freedom 345 is undeniable. The builder does all of the major things right, as well as all of the little things. The Freedom 345 may not be the largest boat in the Grady-White fleet, but it has the same feel as its bigger siblings.
LOA: 33’6”
Beam: 11’7”
Draft: 2’3’
Max. Power: 1,050 hp
Fuel: 293 gals.
March 2025
