Catamarans.
Smoother ride.
Great for all conditions.
More room on deck.
Two independent propulsion systems.
My family loves ours compared to our two previous deep V's.
But whatever you decide, be sure a RIDE them on a rough day.
Boats are a huge investment of both money and time. It's important to get it right the first time.

I have never owned a cabin boat or family cruiser, so I can't comment on those aspects.
But if it was me, i would probably look at a Glacier Bay.

Good luck.


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Just keep in mind they will get very hot with our summers. Read on thehulltruth. There are some threads about them. I do believe they are pretty bow heavy.

 

I would also look at the World Cat 270 sport cabin as well, fitted with 225hp Yamaha or Suzuki motors. Very similar in price and a smoother ride on the cat - but a lower top speed.

HTH
James

 

The cabin on a boat that size is too small to use for anything but storage and too hot 9 months out of the year. First make sure a center console will not work for the family. You can get a large t-top fabricated and even get extensions for it when not moving. A family boat that is also a hard core fishing boat doesn't exist in that size range. I agree with the previous posters that a Worldcat comes the closest, in either the 25' dual console or the 27' Sportdeck. Just a word of warning, your days in the open gulf will be very limited in that size range, even in a cat.

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Seawolf
I respectfully disagree with JWT on the restricted days. They are less restrictive with a cat than they are with a deep V in the same size range.
All things being equal, no matter what seas you venture out in, a cat will be more comfortable. I haven’t been out in anything over 3.5’ seas in my cat yet, but compared to the same seas (as reported by buoy 42019) that I went out in my 26’ Robalo or my 23’ Ranger CC Offshore, this cat is NO comparison. The comfort is amazing.

The only thing I found a necessity in a cat versus a deep V is an AUTOPILOT. This may be unique to my SeaCat hull, (or my loose steering knuckle,) but keeping it on a straight heading is tough in anything other than a direct head-on sea.

Robert


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I have fished on the Grady several times and while it is a seaworthy and a comfortable ride, it had to be my most miserable experience offshore. The heat that developed was overwhelming. It barely allowed a breeze even in the back end of the boat. We were all miserable and each time several people got sick who normally don’t. The cabin is so small even with air conditioning you can’t ride there in the gulf. Don’t let the pretty pictures on the internet of a set table with a bottle of wine as a centerpiece fool you. Did I mention it was hot? Lol. Not bashing the build or quality of a Grady just speaking the truth.

 

I will agree with others that a cat is comfortable when sitting still in sloppy seas, however loading/unloading a cat versus most center consoles is a PITA in my opinion, and as mentioned, you HAVE to have autopilot or you'll wear your arms out steering the darn thing. Look into Cape Horn. One of the smoothest riding center consoles I've been on. They're built like tanks and will take the chop when most other boats are in the marina.

 

Grady-White

2016 PowerBoat Guide
www.powerboatguide.com
Specifications
Length w/Pulpit ..................
30'2"
Hull Length ........................
28'0"
Beam ....................................
9'6"
Hull Draft ..............................
1'6"
Dry Weight ......................
6,781#
Fuel ..............................
207 gals.
Water .............................
32 gals.
Max HP ................................
600
Hull Type .........................
Deep-V
Deadrise Aft ..........................
20°
T
he Grady-White 282 Sailfish is an updated version of the best-
selling 272 Sailfish (1994â€"2000), one of the best boats in her
class for cockpit space, fishability, and build quality. Originally
designed with an aft bench seat and transom rigging station, the
cockpit of the 282 Sailfish was redesigned in 2005 to include an
aft fish box and a space-saving foldaway rear bench seat in place
of the fixed rear seat. Standard features include an integrated
swim/dive platform, 40-gallon lighted livewell (under companion
seat), cushioned fish boxes, anchor locker, cockpit lights, raw-
water washdown, cockpit bolsters, transom door, insulated cooler,
cockpit shower, gunnel rod holders, and trim tabs. Belowdecks,
the well-appointed cabin with teak and holly sole includes a galley
with microwave and fridge, enclosed head/shower, midcabin berth,
and convertible dinette/V-berth forward. Wide walkaways around
the cabin are a plus, and with over 200 gallons of fuel capacity,
the 282 has plenty of range. A heavily built boat with exceptional
fit and finish, the 282 Sailfish tops out at close to 40 knots with
twin Yamaha 250s.

 

Some pretty good advice here. I’ve fished a lot of WA cabin boats in south la. No doubt a cc is cooler but it is doable. Issue is Texas weather sucks. 28 won’t have Bluewater range and if you really want to run offshore you need to step up to the 30 Grady Marlon or even better the 33 pursuit if you have three Bluewater bug.

It isn’t just he size and fuel capacity. Both of those have generators and have A/C. Which means u could easily blow the ac into the helm area thereby minimizing the heat.

I will say that while the 30 Grady rides waaay better than the 28 the comment above about sea sickness on the Grady is right. Never seen as many people cocnsistantly sick as I did on the Grady. I think it is the roll motion and fact that it isn’t that fast so u go up and down every wave and spend more time doing it trying to get offshore. Just a different deal than a high speed cc

 

The World Cat in 266 or 270 size is a great bluewater boat - I fished mine out to the Hilltops and back home with 60 gallons to spare. I know Angel fishes his 25' sea-cat all the way out to the floaters often.

I agree with the other comments - a cuddy in TX is really only good for sleeping in while tied up at the dock (if it has A/C). Otherwise it's just a big dry-storage area most of the time, or a great place for ladies to use the toilet.

HTH
James

 

Check out a Cobia 312 ... great family boat, good fishing boat ... a little more open than a traditional W/A ... It's a unique layout and was originally a Century hull until Yamaha let the brand die ... kind of a cross between a CC and a W/A ...

.

 

Sorry so late to respond to this, I haven't been checking in as much as I should, but I'd like to offer a different perspective than the comments above.

I bought a Grady White Sailfish in early 2009 as a family boat with hopes the family also would enjoy some serious offshore fishing. Well, we are still enjoying it almost ten years later even though the kids are grown and our youngest just left for college. It has been an excellent family boat and blue water boat for us out of Surfside. I keep a log of all our trips. We generally make around 8-10 fishing trips per year with a third of them being overnighters at the floaters or swordfish grounds.

PM me if you would like to come down to Surfside sometime and check it out.

Here’s a few pics of the kids enjoying the boat.

 

This boat has been such a blast for us! My wife loves it too and goes on almost every trip. My daughter used to go on the snapper trips, but she doesn't like fishing enough for overnighters.

Here's a few more pics.

 

Our family never thought our boat was too hot. I have run the A/C offshore with a Honda EU2000i, but honestly we almost never bring it because the cabin is tolerable with the windows and hatch partially open or with battery powered fans. I think it is much nicer with the A/C but the family always says don’t bother.

The Sailfish has an aft bunk that we generally use for storage which leaves the main cabin fairly open.
It is also nice to go down to the marina for a maintenance trip and stay overnight on the boat.

One other nice feature - the kids enjoyed riding on the bow if it wasn't too rough.

Last pic is of us trolling at a drillship near Nancen. Sorry to get carried away with the photos but lot's of good memories on this boat!

I've fished many center consoles and my bay boat is a cat, so nothing against any other ride. They all have pluses and minuses, but I honestly wouldn't trade my Grady for anything else of the same length. It was a perfect fit for us. I love that boat.

Thanks!
Barry

 

Great pictures Barry!

Happy new year.

James

 

While the Sailfish isn't a go fast center console boat it does offer the benefit of being a drier more comfortable ride. Huge cockpit for a boat in it's class that is very capable of fishing out deep. Have spent many trips on the Sailfish with the longest trip out to Hoover and many nights spent at floaters. I agree with above that it would make a great family fishing boat but stepping up to the Marlin would add the big benefit of a genset option.

The Sailfish will be up for sale soon, owner is on the board. PM for contact. Repowered begining of 2018 with 250 Yamahas, new eisenglass and new trailer.

 

Thanks for all the info. I was concerned with the cabin being too hot as well but I have found a few boats with a genset to power the ac. I still have a ways to go be fore I’m ready to buy.

 

Trailer-ability is another concern. I have a place on matagorda bay that I would like to keep the boat. This would require a 30 min road trip to get to a ramp that will accommodate a boat in this size range. The Marin 30 has a 10' beam, anybody had any issues pulling a boat that wide?

 

I pull my McKee 28, with a 9'11" beam. I haul from League City to Freeport, or to Galveston.

The only issue is the road construction on 45 with narrow lanes. It gets tight, but doable.

You also have to plan your stops so you can make the turns, but that has nothing to do with the beam...more the overall length.

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I maybe taking a 2007 in on Trade later this mth. 281-787-3783

 

GW 268 Islander WA

I have a 268 Islander (1996) and have absolutely no issues concerning how seaworthy this boat has been. I like the WA aspect of the boat. Perfect for family adventures along with serious overnight fishing going deep blue. All boats have down sides but this boat has been perfect for my family. Several mods have been made to accommodate use (fishing or cruising) of boat. Overall, this WA is a great match for our use.

 

Been out of the Blue Water scene for several years but I always thought the Fountain SFC was a cool layout. Any thoughts finding one of those...