Construction is underway at Grand Banks Yachts’ Malaysian factory of its third new model in as many years, the Grand Banks 54. It will join the 60 and 60 Skylounge in the builder’s revitalized line. “The 54 will combine weight reduction, strength and a low vertical center of gravity, just as we did on the 60 and 60 Skylounge,” said Mark Richards, CEO of Grand Banks Yachts. “Efficiency doesn’t matter without comfort, so we made sure the 54 will offer surefootedness in a wide range of sea states, and an interior worthy of extended time aboard.”
Two belowdecks configurations will be available. One is a two-stateroom layout with the galley down, while the other has three staterooms and a galley-up arrangement. The main salon will have plenty of seating with a four-person dinette, a two-person helm bench, and L-shaped lounge set around a teak table.
Outside spaces look equally comfortable. The aft cockpit will have a transom lounge set abaft a varnished teak table. The cockpit sole is gunwale-to-gunwale teak, and teak covers a stairway to starboard that leads up to the flybridge. On the bridge, there is room for a dinghy and davit. Forward is the upper helm, which has two swiveling captain’s chairs. A small galley and an L-shaped lounge with teak table are behind the helm. Overhead is an elongated hardtop.
Grand Banks is outfitting the 54 (LOA is 53’10”, beam is 17’6”) with a pair of 725-hp Volvo Penta D11 diesels that utilize a traditional shaft and propeller setup. But the old-school running gear doesn’t mean the 54 is inefficient or slow. Grand Banks’ preliminary design numbers predict a 1,000-nautical-mile range at 10 knots with a fast cruise of 27 knots. Top end should be around 31 knots.
The Grand Banks 54 will make her U.S. debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in November.
This article originally appeared in the May 2019 issue.
