Grand Banks introduces the new GB65, expanding the possibilities of its successful 60 series
by Grand Banks 6 Sep 06:16 PDT
Seventy years after defining long-range cruising, Grand Banks continues to challenge many of the assumptions that have long shaped the category.
When the Grand Banks 60 debuted in 2017, it demonstrated that passagemaking no longer required sacrificing speed for efficiency. Then the introduction of the Grand Banks 54, 62, and 85 expanded this philosophy. Now, with the unveiling of the new Grand Banks 65 Skylounge, Grand Banks has created one of its most versatile expressions yet: a yacht equally at home as a long-range cruiser, expedition platform, a yachtfish, or family adventure vessel. Once again, the new offering proves CEO and Chief Designer Mark Richards' premise that passagemakers can efficiently cruise at higher speeds in a seakindly, comfortable manner, while fully expressing each owners specific cruising lifestyle.
At the heart of today's generation of Grand Banks is Richards' demand of reduced weight, stronger structures, and a hydrodynamic design that effortlessly glides on top of the water with minimal resistance and fuss. His philosophy developed as a shipwright has driven the company's proprietary V-Warp Technology. This proprietary hull design and construction technology has been employed to incredible success on all new Grand Banks launches.
V-Warp Technology goes beyond hull design, though. This game-changing technology is a combination of hull form, construction materials, and the build process itself. Trademarks of the Gtand Banks hull include a fine entry on the bow, graceful curvature amidships, and a minimal deadrise at the transom, all of which provides an extremely smooth, fuel-efficient ride throughout the speed curve.
Each V-Warp hull is built with a precise resin-to-fibre ratio, resulting in strong, fast, and lightweight hulls built with unidirectional and multi-axial carbon fibre. And finally, each V-Warp hull is fused directly to the bulkheads, the carbon fibre deck, and the superstructure of the vessel. All of this leads to a finished product that is incredibly strong and delivers a soft, quiet ride across any ocean. For example, decibel readings in the master stateroom while cruising at 28 knots registered at just a mere 70 dBA. (The level of normal conversation is 64 dBA.)
Standard power on the 65 is twin Volvo D13s, rated at 1,000 horsepower each on straight shafts, with Twin Disc MGX 5096A marine transmissions. The first 65 Skylounge is equipped with twin 1,000-horsepower Volvo IPS 1350s easily propelling the 65 at speeds over the 30-knot mark.
At 50-percent load the Grand Banks 65 can achieve a 20-knot cruise speed while burning 37 gallons-per-hour total. If adventures are farther afield, the 65 has a range of 2,344 nautical miles when cruising effortlessly at 10 knots. The fuel curve shape reveals a running surface design that is efficient across the RPM range.
"Less weight. More strength. Less fuel burn. More range. More speed, less resistance," says Richards. "Our approach is really that straightforward."
Like all Grand Banks models, the Grand Banks 65 can also be easily customized to suit its owners preferences and tailored to how they spend time on the water. Owners ask each of our yachts to do many things. Spend weeks cruising the Bahamas. Dive remote reefs. Maybe chase tuna offshore. Entertain grandchildren. Work remotely for part of the summer. The Grand Banks 65 was conceived with this versatility and customization from the outset.
The noticeable difference between the GB60 and the new GB65 is in the salon where there is an extra four feet of length, while an additional foot of length is realized in the cockpit area. On the 65 Skylounge, the owner chose to expand the galley area with an upright refrigerator and additional storage. The interior volume also afforded by the nineteen-foot, two-inch beam provides ample space for an amidships master stateroom with king-sized berth, en suite, and loads of storage for liveaboard cruising comfort. A VIP stateroom and en suite is forward and benefits from natural light and ventilation.
While the starboard stateroom can be configured as a multiple berth stateroom with en suite, an onboard office, or a utility room with additional refrigeration, washer/dryer, an athwartships berth, and large hanging locker space.
Every major decision aboard the Grand Banks 65 was driven by how owners actually cruise. Positioning the galley aft, for instance, makes provisioning effortless before departure while naturally connecting the interior living space with the cockpit, grill, and outdoor entertaining areas once under way. In the salon, with the helm chairs above in the Skylounge, the salon is dedicated to living in comfort. Large opening side and aft windows bathe the salon and aft galley in natural light, and ventilation.
The generous lazarette swallows everything from dive gear and paddleboards to spare parts, lines, fenders, and provisions, all equipment that serious cruisers inevitably accumulate during months away from home. A watertight door allows for engine room access from this area while soft patches above allows for more extensive maintenance.
Above, the spacious Skylounge can easily serve as another salon with a large L-shaped settee, dining table, refrigeration, and dayhead with shower. The settee creates an ideal watch berth for long passages. The centerline helm forward has good sightlines from the two Stidd helmseats and benefits from opening side and aft windows to essentially make the space feel as open as many flybridge designs.
Outside, the design, equipment, and layout are trademark Grand Banks with flawlessly executed railings and grab rails all manufactured in-house at the Grand Banks factory. Wide side decks with ample bulwarks make passage around the deck while docking or under way safe and easy. Depending on an owner's priorities, the cockpit can evolve from an elegant entertaining space into a capable offshore fishing platform or expedition staging area for diving, paddleboards, kayaks, and extended cruising equipment.
Several interior accommodations plans are available. Regardless of the layout chosen, Grand Banks works with each owner to ensure their yacht directly reflects their experience, taste, and individual needs.
"Every owner cruises differently," says Richards. "Some chase marlin. Some spend months exploring Alaska's Inside Passage. Others anchor in the Exumas with kids aboard. Our role isn't to tell owners how they should use their GB. It's to build one capable of taking them wherever their ambitions lead. That's the fun part for me, building boats with our customers."
With the introduction of the Grand Banks 65 Skylounge and Flybridge, Grand Banks continues to redefine what a modern long-range cruising yacht can be and delivering the efficiency, strength, customization, and confidence to venture farther while enjoying every mile along the way.