Follow a leader, the Grady-White Express 340
I was looking for new boat models to review while wandering the inside display of Lumen Field at the Seattle Boat Show. On the way down the stairway from the mezzanine where electronics and equipment are displayed, the shiny glint of a semi-custom Tanner Mfg. stainless steel radar arch caught my eye. When I saw that the boat beneath this piece of functional artwork was the new Grady-White Express 340, I just had to get aboard this cream-colored beauty. I have a lot of respect for these American built fishing boats that are known for durability and a hullform that is designed to get you to your destination no matter what the conditions. As I made my way down to the boat, that seakeeping capability brought back memories of a blustery day long ago when a Grady-White saved us from a very rough trip.
Memories of a smokestack implosion
On January 17,1993, my wife, our dog, and I went on a voyage along with our friends Nancy and Jerry. At that time the company we worked for had an 18’ Campion cuddy cabin cruiser with a single gas outboard that we could use. On that crisp winter day, a 562’ smokestack in Tacoma at the former ASARCO copper smelting operation was going to be imploded so we decided to take the boat down to Commencement Bay to watch the action. We launched the boat out of Shilshole and made our way the roughly 30 miles to Tacoma. The wind and waves were mostly behind us, so we made good time.
At 1240 hours in a controlled eight-second explosion, the smokestack which is nearly as tall as the Space Needle came crashing down. There were thousands of people on shore and dozens of boats bobbing around like us in the nearby waters watching the stack, which had been deemed an environmental hazard, come crashing down. With the smokestack gone and the festivities over we turned and headed back. I don’t know if it was the wind against the current, but the conditions were markedly different than when we had come down. Short steep waves were knocking us around with spray covering our windshield and rolling back over the canvas top. Our dog Sandalwood, who usually enjoyed boat rides, was not happy, looking at us like we were crazy as she got knocked back by another wave. We just couldn’t make much speed without slamming into the waves. This was going to be a long uncomfortable ride. Then as the crowd of boats began to disburse a Grady-White shot by us heading the same way. We steered into her wake, holding back a few boat lengths began to tail her.
The hull form that works
Since 1988 Grady-White has been using what they call a SeaV²® hull which was designed in collaboration with Ray Hunt Design (formerly C. Raymond Hunt Associates). The deep V forward cleaves the water even in rough conditions like the ones we were encountering and then flows the water aft where the hull flattens out. This continuously variable vee design where no two points along the keel share the same deadrise (which decreases from fore to aft) delivers the wave-cutting ride of a deep-vee hull forward, with the stability and efficiency of a modified vee aft.
The Grady-White we were following was having no trouble blasting through the rough conditions with this unique hull form. In her wake, we were cruising smoothly and efficiently. I am pretty sure the driver of the Grady-White we were tailing having seen us struggling and then settling comfortably in his wake even slowed down a little allowing us to keep up with him. Like an icebreaker creating a route for a ship, he cruised effortlessly through the seas, and we enjoyed the comfort of his wake. Luckily for us he went all the way past Shilshole, probably heading to Edmonds, so we eventually ducked out from behind him with a salute of thanks and angled off into the marina. My thought at the time was that in rough conditions you don’t have to have a Grady White you just have to be lucky enough to be able to follow one around.
Touring the new 340
At the boat show I got aboard the new Grady-White Express 340 with Jacobsen Marine’s Tom Ross. The boat was impressive as Tom walked me through the features and explained how this boat was replacing the popular 330 model. Cockpit seating could be folded up for fishing, rod holders line the cockpit combings, along with twin electric Scotty downriggers (a dealer installed option). The transom contains a 166-qt. insulated fish box that can also be set up with refrigeration, a 30-gal. livewell, and an 87-qt. insulated cooler with a recessed faucet.
The hardtop has optional twin stainless base, carbon fiber pole, and outriggers appropriately holding up a Seattle Seahawks “12” flag since the show ends the day before the Superbowl. A SureShade is perched conveniently beneath the shiny Tanner arch. The cockpit has an aft facing seat to port that is pretty unique. It can be deployed as a full seat complete with a retractable footrest below creating an ideal spot to sit and watch your lines. The seat can also be bolstered up or folded down. When folded the back of the seat reveals a Dekton® scratch resistant porcelain countertop that looks like stone, the same material used on counters throughout the boat. Behind the seatback a convenient lighted compartment has 12V USB and 120V outlets for charging. Below the seat there are several storage drawers for tackle, in addition to the pull-out footrest. To starboard is a cabinet that can be configured as a wet bar with sink and countertop, or with an optional electric grill and a refrigerator below. Twin side doors are convenient at the dock and will suffice when pulling in the big ones as there is no transom door.
The adjustable bolstered helm chair has armrests, and footrest and good access to the wheel, throttles, and controls. On the dashboard there is space for twin MFDs, the show model featured Garmin, but owners can choose their preferred electronics, a dealer installed option. Electronic Helm Master® Steering with a joystick is connected to the Triple Yamaha 350HP outboards aboard which should make for easy steering and dockside maneuverability especially since the boat also has a bow thruster. Manufacturer’s performance testing shows a top speed of 57.2 miles per hour (49.7 knots). A suggested cruising speed of 30.4 miles per hour (26.4 knots) at 3500 rpm uses 27.2 gallons per hour and delivers a calculated range of 342 miles (297 nautical miles) with a 10% reserve, good range for a vessel of this type. For increased stability a Seakeeper® 3 gyro is an option. Opposite the helm a lounge with a table provides additional seating whether underway or dockside.
Hand crafted in Greenville, North Carolina, Grady-White has been building boats since 1959. While known for their ride, dependability and fishing prowess, the Grady-White Express 340 also has a lot of creature comforts. Below decks there is a fully appointed galley with stainless steel sink, storage, and countertop prep space along with a microwave, refrigerator, and electric stove top. A forward table and the cushioned back rest electronically lower converting this below decks dinette into a V-berth bed. Another double quarter berth bed is below the entry stairs. A single private wet head can be easily accessed from the cabin and down the steps from above.
The new Grady-White Express 340 showcases seaworthy design and rugged construction of their smooth riding hulls in a fast boat. While built for serious fishing, the boat can easily double as a comfortable weekender. If you want to safely and smoothly run in conditions that some other boats might have trouble in, you can do like I did and follow a Grady-White, or maybe just buy one yourself so you can go whenever you want.
https://www.gradywhite.com/models/express-340
Grady-White Express 340 Specifications
MSRP price (2-2026): $950,000
Length Without Engines: 33’6″ (10.21 m)
Beam Amidships: 11’7″ (3.53 m)
Bridge Clearance: 9’11” (3.02 m)
Cockpit Depth: 29″ (0.74 m)
Hull Draft: 27″ (0.69 m)
Transom Deadrise: 20 degrees (SeaV2® variable deadrise progression)
Engine Option 1: 2× Yamaha XTO Offshore® 450HP 5.6L V8
Engine Option 2: 3× Yamaha Four Stroke 300HP 4.3L V6
Fuel Capacity (Gasoline): 340 gal (1,287 L)
Diesel Fuel for Genset: 13 gal (49.2 L)
Freshwater Capacity: 51 gal (193 L)
Holding Tank Capacity: 10 gal (38 L)
Generator: 8 kW diesel
Weight (w/o Engines): 12,870 lb (5,838 kg)
