Stepping up in size is one of the recurring themes of boat ownership, particularly for the couple who own this Grand Banks 60 Skylounge. Their previous boat was a Grand Banks 47 Europa, which they kept in the Pacific Northwest. As their experience afloat increased, they decided they wanted to spend more time aboard and cruise East Coast waters, with an eye towards crossing the pond. The GB60 Skylounge checked all the boxes as a liveaboard, distance-cruising yacht.

The 60 Skylounge gave them a long-distance cruiser capable of making passages over significant bluewater distances with a wide range of speeds and efficiencies. They also wanted all the redundancies that would make a trans-oceanic voyage safer and more comfortable. The enclosed bridge would give them added protection from the elements and make passages far more comfortable and enjoyable.

They took delivery of Hull No. 18 on the East Coast, where it was commissioned at the Grand Banks Yacht Basin in Stuart, Florida. From there, the owners voyaged to the Northeast and onto Downeast Maine. Their long-term plans included cruising the Leeward and Windward islands of the Caribbean, and then to set course for the Med and other European destinations.

The boat is equipped with a pair of 900-hp Volvo-Penta D13 diesels with traditional shaft drives. Twin Disc’s MGX QuickShift transmissions and Express Joystick System add handling ease, coordinating the engines with the hydraulic bow and stern thrusters and making sideways or even diagonal maneuvering a breeze. The system’s Dynamic Positioning function proved a true boon when holding for a bridge or canal gate opening. At a modest 9 knots, burning a total of 4.5 gallons per hour, the Volvos provide a range of almost 3,000 nautical miles. At 20 knots the hourly fuel burn is 45 gallons, which is when the range drops down to 700 nautical miles.

The owners added many upgrades, including more batteries for extra capacity and a multi-voltage transformer that would allow them to plug into any dock power system—110, 220 or 240 volts—anywhere in the world. One of their favorite features is a height-adjusting pasarelle that is tucked away in the transom and pops out of a hatch for stern-to mooring in the Med, or to reach fixed docks globally.

In the engine room, two 15-kVA Fischer Panda 15000i PMS generators automatically synchronize to share any onboard load. Among the systems that use this power is the Humphree trim and stabilization system—the electrically actuated fins that also help minimize excessive roll when the boat is underway.

The GB60 Skylounge turned out to be a game changer for the owners’ vision of what long distance cruising ought to be.

Walkthrough

Boarding is straightforward from the wide, deep swim platform, which offers access to the aft deck via an opening transom door. The boat deck above affords the aft deck with complete shelter from sun and rain for those sitting on a large bench seat served by a custom table. To port, an aft-facing bench adds seating, while to starboard there is a teak-tread stairway leading to the enclosed skylounge. Access to the engine room is beneath the cockpit sole. Two symmetrical side decks lead forward and up two steps to the foredeck.

The main salon offers expansive views on both sides, with a galley in the aft port corner and storage to starboard. In the standard plan, there is an L-shaped dining lounge with custom wood table to port and a pair of facing lounges with low table to starboard. Down a flight of companionway stairs near the centerline, the accommodations deck features an expansive owner’s stateroom with ensuite head to port, and a guest cabin with a double berth to starboard. In the bow, another spacious guest stateroom features an island queen berth and plenty of storage. It shares a starboard head compartment with the other guest cabin.

The enclosed skylounge has abundant natural light from the overhead sliding ventilation hatches and power side windows. 

This article was originally published in the January 2024 issue.