For sale: 1987 Grady White offshore 24 with 2006 Yamaha 250hp 4-stroke $16,750
Me and my girl are parting ways after 15 years. It's not her, it's me. Well, actually, it's complicated.... Let me explain.
TLDR (too long, didn't read, full story below)
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Here's the details: $16,750 with 2020 Venture Trailer
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Let Me Tell You a Little Story...
The year is 2010. The iPhone is a few years old, and most people are still wondering what to do with it. Technology is threatening to do everything for us, and the media is forecasting that my toaster may soon go wireless (except for the toast part) with something called "The Internet of Things (IoT)." I wanted to continue to enjoy my unwired life as much as possible, and with a new baby on the way, an upgrade from our mostly capable (but uncomfortable and unreliable) Sisu lobster boat seemed like the solution that would help keep the IoT at bay a little bit longer. A Grady White was an icon on the East Coast, known for its ability to endure rough seas and fish guts, while being comfortable enough for mothers and grandmothers, and I dreamt of overnights at the Isles of Shoals, sleeping in the cuddy cabin, and cooking on a grill hanging off the transom. It was a dream.
My brother and I went looking for a solid Grady back in 2010. We found this girl, a 1987 Offshore 24, with a smelly 2-stroke Suzuki 225hp strapped to her rear. We had a marine survey done prior to purchase, and the short story was the hull was solid, but the motor was a bit tired. It was decent (at least at keeping the mosquitos away with all that smoke) but it was noisome, unreliable and odiferous. With a new baby on the way, we wanted a more reliable powerplant. The story is long (and I'll tell it to you on the test ride) but we found a 2006 Yamaha F250 sitting in a marina showroom with only 30 hours on it (apparently, the previous owner needed a 300hp to feel like more of a man) and we were smitten. At 30 hours, the new motor was barely broken in. And at 4 years old, the marina was extremely motivated to get it off their floor.
The year is 2010. The iPhone is a few years old, and most people are still wondering what to do with it. Technology is threatening to do everything for us, and the media is forecasting that my toaster may soon go wireless (except for the toast part) with something called "The Internet of Things (IoT)." I wanted to continue to enjoy my unwired life as much as possible, and with a new baby on the way, an upgrade from our mostly capable (but uncomfortable and unreliable) Sisu lobster boat seemed like the solution that would help keep the IoT at bay a little bit longer. A Grady White was an icon on the East Coast, known for its ability to endure rough seas and fish guts, while being comfortable enough for mothers and grandmothers, and I dreamt of overnights at the Isles of Shoals, sleeping in the cuddy cabin, and cooking on a grill hanging off the transom. It was a dream.
My brother and I went looking for a solid Grady back in 2010. We found this girl, a 1987 Offshore 24, with a smelly 2-stroke Suzuki 225hp strapped to her rear. We had a marine survey done prior to purchase, and the short story was the hull was solid, but the motor was a bit tired. It was decent (at least at keeping the mosquitos away with all that smoke) but it was noisome, unreliable and odiferous. With a new baby on the way, we wanted a more reliable powerplant. The story is long (and I'll tell it to you on the test ride) but we found a 2006 Yamaha F250 sitting in a marina showroom with only 30 hours on it (apparently, the previous owner needed a 300hp to feel like more of a man) and we were smitten. At 30 hours, the new motor was barely broken in. And at 4 years old, the marina was extremely motivated to get it off their floor.
We had the new powerplant professionally mounted, swapped over all controls and harnesses, and swapped out the lower unit for a long shaft (required for optimal pairing with the Grady) at the end of the first season. I went from asking if the engine was on fire (due to all the 2 stroke smoke) to asking everyone to be quiet so I could hear if the motor was running. It was a beautiful upgrade, and gave us confidence in venturing offshore. My wife was in her third trimester with our son, and the last thing I needed was to be stranded in the wily waters of the Piscataqua (another story...). The motor is mounted on a Gill bracket (or whatever your favorite term is for a transom bracket) which has the advantages of being much safer because of the solid transom (especially in following seas), much stronger, much quieter, and allowing the boat to ride much more smoothly because of the additional length. It's like getting the ride of a 27' boat but without the additional cost.
Every year, we put about 30 hours on the meter. About 5 years later my brother moved away and I bought his half. From there, we only put about 20-25 hours a year on it, mostly cruising with friends around the Portsmouth Harbor, seeing shows at Prescott Park, beaching at Ft. Foster, Odiorne Point, and enjoying it like an old friend. During those years we did many upgrades and fixes, redoing cushions, adding washdown and livewell pumps, and keeping the old girl in shipshape, so to speak.
A couple of years ago I noticed the aroma of gas fumes when we would fill up. These old GWs used aluminum tanks, and they had a tendency (especially after 30 years) to develop pinhole leaks on the top of the tanks because of moisture. Given that the fuel lines degrade much more quickly with the addition of ethanol in the fuel, I decided it was time to change out the tanks and fuel lines. Luckily, GW built deck hatches into their design, so accessing the tanks is much easier than on some other boats where they were foamed and glassed in, requiring a chainsaw and major demolition to change things out.
The Offshore 24 model originally had 2 tanks, a 90-gallon (+/-) main tank and a 40-gallon (+/-) auxiliary tank. Now, I don't know about you, but in the prior 10 years, I never found the need (or the money) to fill 130 gallons of fuel, especially given our 25-hour-a-year usage. It was actually a recipe for bad gas and moisture in the tanks, so we only used the 40-gallon auxiliary tank. When it came time to swap the tanks out I researched many different options, finally settling on a 58-gallon Moeller poly tank, placing it in the forward cavity which previously housed the 90-gallon tank. I replaced both the fuel filler line (you're welcome, getting that thing snaked through the hull has left permanent scars on my forearms, as well as my psyche) and the vent line, and ran new hose to the motor, including a new fuel filter/water separator in the bilge. (I left the old fuel filler and vent hose in place in case someone wants to add an additional tank. Using the old fuel lines to pull the new lines through the stringers makes the project much easier.). All lines were the highest quality I was able to source, and purchased through Hamilton Marine. (I have a vintage VW bus, and I have seen too many of them go up in flames because of fuel hose leaks.) Every connection was double clamped, as per USCG requirements. I have run new fuel sender wiring in the last few weeks as well. I currently have the hatches unsealed in case potential buyers want to inspect the work and the condition of the stringers (which are strong and dry), but I plan on sealing them up as I continue to get the boat ready for sale. Pictures will be available.
Additionally, when we had the boat on the hard, the keel rash accrued over years of use was ground out and repaired using multiple layers of fiberglass mat, fairing, and repainting with fresh ablative bottom paint. The hull is strong and solid. There are dings around the boat that could be repaired, and may be, as time allots. But it is all cosmetic. I like a boat that is strong and safe, but doesn't cause me stress if someone drops a glass (or bottle) of red wine on the deck.
In 2020 I replaced the trailer with a dual-axle Venture trailer with bunks. The dealer I bought it from has a GW 268 Islander (if I recall correctly) and uses the same trailer. Because it seemed sexier, I asked about rollers instead of bunks. His derisive look let me know how he really felt, but he softened his words to make me feel better. "Rollers are little boats that sit in your driveway. They aren't good for a big boat as they have point loads that cause stress fractures. And anyone who knows what they're doing knows how to pull a boat with a trailer that has bunks. You don't need rollers." I sheepishly put my wallet back in my pocket, silently thanking him for not selling me something I didn't need.
All the big projects are done on this boat, but there are enough small projects (if that's your interest) to get you out of the house, if you know what I mean. And, for those that know, the captain's chair was formerly owned by Norm Abrams. But that's another story.
Here's a list of details, upgrades, fixes, maintenance, and other work that has been recently done:
Every year, we put about 30 hours on the meter. About 5 years later my brother moved away and I bought his half. From there, we only put about 20-25 hours a year on it, mostly cruising with friends around the Portsmouth Harbor, seeing shows at Prescott Park, beaching at Ft. Foster, Odiorne Point, and enjoying it like an old friend. During those years we did many upgrades and fixes, redoing cushions, adding washdown and livewell pumps, and keeping the old girl in shipshape, so to speak.
A couple of years ago I noticed the aroma of gas fumes when we would fill up. These old GWs used aluminum tanks, and they had a tendency (especially after 30 years) to develop pinhole leaks on the top of the tanks because of moisture. Given that the fuel lines degrade much more quickly with the addition of ethanol in the fuel, I decided it was time to change out the tanks and fuel lines. Luckily, GW built deck hatches into their design, so accessing the tanks is much easier than on some other boats where they were foamed and glassed in, requiring a chainsaw and major demolition to change things out.
The Offshore 24 model originally had 2 tanks, a 90-gallon (+/-) main tank and a 40-gallon (+/-) auxiliary tank. Now, I don't know about you, but in the prior 10 years, I never found the need (or the money) to fill 130 gallons of fuel, especially given our 25-hour-a-year usage. It was actually a recipe for bad gas and moisture in the tanks, so we only used the 40-gallon auxiliary tank. When it came time to swap the tanks out I researched many different options, finally settling on a 58-gallon Moeller poly tank, placing it in the forward cavity which previously housed the 90-gallon tank. I replaced both the fuel filler line (you're welcome, getting that thing snaked through the hull has left permanent scars on my forearms, as well as my psyche) and the vent line, and ran new hose to the motor, including a new fuel filter/water separator in the bilge. (I left the old fuel filler and vent hose in place in case someone wants to add an additional tank. Using the old fuel lines to pull the new lines through the stringers makes the project much easier.). All lines were the highest quality I was able to source, and purchased through Hamilton Marine. (I have a vintage VW bus, and I have seen too many of them go up in flames because of fuel hose leaks.) Every connection was double clamped, as per USCG requirements. I have run new fuel sender wiring in the last few weeks as well. I currently have the hatches unsealed in case potential buyers want to inspect the work and the condition of the stringers (which are strong and dry), but I plan on sealing them up as I continue to get the boat ready for sale. Pictures will be available.
Additionally, when we had the boat on the hard, the keel rash accrued over years of use was ground out and repaired using multiple layers of fiberglass mat, fairing, and repainting with fresh ablative bottom paint. The hull is strong and solid. There are dings around the boat that could be repaired, and may be, as time allots. But it is all cosmetic. I like a boat that is strong and safe, but doesn't cause me stress if someone drops a glass (or bottle) of red wine on the deck.
In 2020 I replaced the trailer with a dual-axle Venture trailer with bunks. The dealer I bought it from has a GW 268 Islander (if I recall correctly) and uses the same trailer. Because it seemed sexier, I asked about rollers instead of bunks. His derisive look let me know how he really felt, but he softened his words to make me feel better. "Rollers are little boats that sit in your driveway. They aren't good for a big boat as they have point loads that cause stress fractures. And anyone who knows what they're doing knows how to pull a boat with a trailer that has bunks. You don't need rollers." I sheepishly put my wallet back in my pocket, silently thanking him for not selling me something I didn't need.
All the big projects are done on this boat, but there are enough small projects (if that's your interest) to get you out of the house, if you know what I mean. And, for those that know, the captain's chair was formerly owned by Norm Abrams. But that's another story.
Here's a list of details, upgrades, fixes, maintenance, and other work that has been recently done:
- 1987 Grady White Offshore 24, hull number NTLCS236J687
- 2006 Yamaha F250TUR 4-Stroke 250hp
- 315 hours on motor
- New custom Bimini top
- New Moeller poly fuel tank and new fuel sender wiring
- New fuel filler and vent lines
- New fuel lines from tank to motor
- New fuel separator and filter
- New trim seals and caps on trim/tilt system
- Flush Trim/Tilt hydraulics and fluid change
- 2 batteries, one new, one 2 years old
- New Petit Neptune HRT bottom paint
- 2020 tandem-axle Venture Bunk Trailer
- Tune up June 2024 including fuel and oil filter, oil change, lower unit oil change, spark plugs
- New bilge pump and wiring
- New horn
- Full set of cushions, some a few years old, others older (the foredeck ones that were rarely used)
- Washdown pump
- Livewell with pump
- 2 anchors
- Foul weather curtains (probably pretty yellowed, but good for patterns if you want to have new ones made)
- 2 VHS radios
- Hummingbird GPS
- AM/FM Radio with CD Player!
- Misc dock lines, anchor lines and fenders
- Norm Abrams Captain's Chair
Hey, if this Thing Is so Great, Why Are You Selling It?
That's a great question, and I ask myself all the time. Believe me, my son is pissed. But there are a few reasons:
- Our dock is in the mud at low tide, and we've been lucky enough to have access to our neighbor's docks over the years. We trailer it about twice a year, to put it in and take it out. I'm not enough of a planner to enjoy trailering a boat every time I want to use it. I much more enjoy the moment, as in "Wow, look at that sunset! Let's go for a cruise!" She doesn't deserve to sit in the mud half the time...
- It's more boat than my wife is comfortable with using without me, and she deserve's to enjoy it as much as I do. I grew up around boats and have a lot of experience, and I love taking this boat out with family, friends, and especially alone. It's a heavy, strong, safe boat with a lot of power which doesn't make it a great choice for a nervous novice. We will be looking for a center console hard-bottom inflatable (a RIB, in the industry) which bounces rather than crashes when you have a tricky docking situation. And when you live on the back channel, every docking situation is tricky...
- There's probably some other reasons that have less of an implication like some construction projects we are in the middle of and travel schedules that are onerous, but the first two bullets probably cover 98%. Oh, and my dog doesn't like it. And the other dog doesn't either (he won't even go on the dock). The cat doesn't really care.
- After writing all this up, I'm not even sure I want to sell it. So you better act fast before I change my mind...