tgotch
Veteran Member
I just started looking at trawlers for sale. I see a lot of 20-30+ year old Grand Banks trawlers selling for sometimes 50-100% more than similar model trawlers. Are they that good? If so, what makes them fetch such a premium?
Greetings,
Don't forget a great advertising program.
Go look at the boats (if you know how to do that, and based on the question, I'd guess you're not there yet) and go for a ride in each. Big difference in build quality and other factors. Great, well earned, reputation adds a "halo effect". Plus, they are still in business unlike virtually all the others.
Well, they are known to be "wet" hulls (water on the windscreen and over the flybridge) in mildly choppy water, the late 70's and 80's hulls have serious blister issues just like other boats from the far east, they have fuel tank rust problems like the rest, are not efficient, have the standard sharp roll reversal characteristic of semi-displacement hulls, and arguably too much exterior teak. They also have above average but typically dated interior joinery and that all important jaunty salty look. The company shares clsed last week at $0.19 and they are clinging to life with their new sister company Palm Beach Yachts. Others still truly in business include Ocean Alexander and Cheoy Lee.
I just started looking at trawlers for sale. I see a lot of 20-30+ year old Grand Banks trawlers selling for sometimes 50-100% more than similar model trawlers. Are they that good? If so, what makes them fetch such a premium?
Well said, Bob and sometimes to get what you want, you have to do it yourself.Bob Cofer; said:I like a boat that I can work on, modify and alter to my needs. I don't need a laptop to troubleshoot engine or electrical issues.
But mostly it is the choice to get the best built, best value that I can in my budget.
Doesn't sound like you have actually been on, or at sea on many (any?) of the 80's and 90's GB boats, which are the subject of the OP's question. We've run several, and know people with several more, including charter companies on both coasts.
BTW, you may want to look at OA's history. Not to mention check out some Cheoy Lees of the same era. I happen to quite like both those marques in general, but they are in no way superior, witness how many are still on the water and in what shape those that are.
More or less what the GB broker said without saying it. As someone else pointed out, the aft cabins are pretty much history, across the board and that was the GB hallmark for decades.refugio; said:The world has moved on.
Not true. As of right now there are 7034 registered CBrats - 20 online at the moment, 413 max - compared to 2601 (14 online, 179 max) on the GB board.One thing about GB was that they had the largest and most active owner groups.