Palm Beach GT 50

When generously offered a ride out to Catalina to test a Palm Beach GT 50 after the Newport Beach International Boat Show, I quickly agreed to go. I always enjoy getting out on their boats having watched Palm Beach Motor Yachts grow from a boutique Australian builder into a world class boat brand complete with their own super-maxi racing yacht. At the heart of Palm Beach is their founder, Mark Richards, whose endless and sometimes fanatical pursuit of perfection permeates and, in many ways, defines the brand.

From the day I first toured their factory in the early 2000s, which was then in Berkeley Vale outside of Sydney Australia, I understood this brand and these boats were going somewhere. I vividly remember that each worker was issued a vacuum cleaner to keep the factory as clean as the new boats they were building. A famous racing sailor from an early age, Richards was part of two Americas Cup crews and now has nine Sydney to Hobart line honor wins, amongst other racing accolades. His vision and drive whether racing or building boats is unstoppable.

He started Palm Beach in part because he just didn’t think any existing powerboats being built were good enough. To optimize performance and efficiency, he created a unique hull form which is now known as their V-WARP® hull. This proprietary design, developed and refined over the years, is used in all Palm Beach models including the ultralight GT series like the GT 50 I would be testing and is also used on modern Grand Banks models.

The Grand Banks Connection

Why is the hull Richards developed for Palm Beach now used on Grand Banks? Palm Beach Yachts was purchased by Grand Banks in 2014. The board then appointed Richards the CEO of the combined company that now encases both brands. All the boats including Palm Beaches are now manufactured in Malaysia in an immense complex that includes a 700,000 ft² (20 acre) factory that is across the straits from Singapore. The factory under Richards’ direction is still kept amazingly clean and produces some incredible boats. For those thick skinned enough to like investing in boat companies, Grand Banks Yachts Limited is a publicly traded company on the Singapore Stock Exchange under the symbol “G50”.

Unique hull and lightweight construction

Palm Beach Motoryachts’ V-WARP® hull form starts with a fine entry forward that slices through the water which then streams back along the smooth hull sides. No hard chines, strakes, or tunnels disturb the water which flows back as the hull flattens out aft to around eight degrees of deadrise. This creates a semi-displacement hull designed to move easily through the water. The Palm Beach GT 50 hull is built from modern composite construction materials to make the boat both lightweight and strong. Vacuum infusion delivers precise resin-to-E-Glass ratios and unidirectional and multi-axial fibers add strength. The composite hull is then fused directly to carbon fiber which is used extensively in the structure, bulkheads, deck, and superstructure of the vessel which increases rigidity while maintaining weight.

Our hosts from the new California office

Palm Beach boats are sold in the US by factory representatives and the GT 50 we would be testing was in California for the Newport show (NBIBS) and to help Sarah Antona and her husband Rob kickstart their local sales office on Coast Highway in Newport Beach, CA. Our group included photographer-videographer-drone pilot Scott Sanders, and film director, producer, and content creator C. Ryan McVinney, both of whom I have worked with before on some interesting projects including Stomping Grounds Alaska and Cult Classics episodes. This trip would be a little less dramatic as we were just heading out to Avalon on the Palm Beach GT 50 for a short cruise and boat test.

The Trip to Catalina

As we exited Newport Harbor in the midafternoon, the GT 50 rose onto plane smoothly and easily powered by a pair of standard Volvo Penta IPS 800s. Cruising at around 30 knots, we headed to the island, more specifically Avalon harbor 26 miles away. We had a bit of a late start and as we made our way further across the Catalina Channel, a short steep chop built off our starboard bow, which is not uncommon in this area, particularly in the late afternoon. The GT 50 handled it without a problem, the V-WARP® hull sliced through the waves fine.

The wind angle blew some spray across the windshields on some of the bigger waves which was quickly swiped away by the wipers. We were all snug and protected inside the cabin because at this speed with the Pacific Ocean temperature around 65° F, you wouldn’t really want to sit outside in the cockpit. One of the things that makes the GT 50 fun to drive is that it is light and nimble. This gives the boat a slightly different feel than some of the other Palm Beaches I have driven, but like her larger siblings, the GT-50 never clattered or groaned even as we chopped through waves at high speed. It was fun to see how the GT 50 ran through the wind waves as most boat tests wind up being conducted when it is flat. Closer to the island, conditions calmed and we were soon snug on a mooring in Avalon for the night.

Party boat or weekend cruiser

The Palm Beach GT 50 is set up for a variety of purposes. The sedan model we were on had the galley down which allows for meal prep to be conducted away from the action. For dockside parties, envision trays of appetizers being handed up and laid out both in the salon seating area and aft in the wetbar where drinks are served. Those same seating and gathering areas used when entertaining are also excellent places to relax for quiet conversations while on the hook, or to kick back with a good book.

Cockpit seating in both aft corners is also an ideal spot to take in the sights during a day cruise. While perfect for dockside parties and sightseeing the GT 50 is not just a day boat. There are two double cabins and a head with a separate enclosed shower compartment. The main sleeping cabin is an island berth forward complete with storage, a hanging locker and overhead hatches. The light-colored ash interior on our test boat brightens up the cabins and contrasts nicely with the navy-blue bedspreads. The second sleeping cabin is unique. It is a quarter-berth style athwartships queen-sized bed accessed off the galley. This cabin is complete with reading lights and chargers and has over three feet of headroom at the head of the bed. While I don’t see this boat typically cruised with two couple aboard you certainly could, and there is plenty of room in this cabin for single friends, kids, pets, and more.

Advanced electrical system

The GT 50, like other Palm Beach and Grand Banks models, has an advanced electrical system. There is an 8-kW generator on board with a Victron inverter and switching system connected to a bank of Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries which means you won’t have to run the genset very often. The batteries can run all onboard systems including air conditioning for extended periods. This means you can sleep in heated or air-conditioned comfort without being bothered by the whir and hum of a generator.

The system is also fully automated, so if the batteries get depleted down to 20% then the genset kicks on and charges them back up. Once full charge is achieved, the generator shuts back down. This system also works on the dock if the shore power trips or is disconnected. First the battery banks and inverters take over and then if needed the generator will recharge the system if shore power remains off for long periods of time.

Catalina provides a haven for boaters

After a quiet night in Avalon, we set out to explore along the edge of the island before heading back to Newport. Some of our crew stayed in Avalon, but I wanted to drive the boat and needed to get back.

It was late April and the hills along the shore were still green from winter and spring rains. The natural beauty of the rocky island and tranquil coastline reminded me a bit of New Zealand where I had recently visited. My previous trips to Catalina were always in the summer, but now instead of the parched and dusty landscape I was remembered, the rocky outcrops were shadowed by vegetation. The partially overcast sky highlighted the hillsides, some appearing in shades of rich orange and purple contrasted against green patches of vegetation. The shiny blue hull of the Palm Beach shone like a gem on the surface as we made our way along the shoreline.

Catalina has a population of less than 4,000 with most living in Avalon so the rest of the island is very natural with only a few small buildings until you get to the other side of the island. Even at Twin Harbors on the isthmus, there isn’t much on shore in the way of infrastructure. This naturally beautiful place is a stark contrast to the highly developed Los Angeles and Orange County areas which lay just across the channel. It is amazing that over 13 million people live so close to this lovely sanctuary. It is no wonder boaters in California take refuge here away from the traffic and noise on the mainland. I vowed to come back and spend some more time. It had been too long since I played in the waters of Catalina.

Fast and maneuverable

As we headed back, I recorded performance numbers in light conditions far more moderate than our trip out to the island. The Palm Beach GT 50 is simply a pleasure to drive. I looped around in tight circles at 30 knots and the boat leaned in a comfortable five to seven degrees and barely lost any speed. From a dead stop, I pinned the throttles and accelerated up from 0 to 30 mph in 10.4 seconds which was fun. The IPS drives accelerate smoothly and evenly and the narrow entry forward carves the way with little bow rise and not really a hump to climb out of.

The GT 50 is also available with jet drives and now an RS series that features gas outboards. I’d like to try out both of these variations and understand that an outboard model may be available soon and will try to get aboard for a follow-up.

The performance numbers

I ran at various velocities to see if there was a sweet spot but found you could motor effectively at many speeds. At 1800 RPM I cruised easily at 19 knots/19 gph achieving one nautical mile per gallon for a calculated range of 357 nm with a 10% reserve. In contrast to that respectable cruise rate, we peaked at 42.7 mph/37.1 knots, and while you shouldn’t run your diesels at 100% the boat tracked like a champ and felt comfortable even at top speed. This makes me think that adding some horses like the quad V8 500 hp outboards on the Palm Beach GT-50 RS model will make for an exceptional and exhilarating ride. Not that the IPS version isn’t exhilarating, at 2700 RPM/85% load we flew along at 32.8 knots using 51 gph or .64 nm/mpg delivering a 229 nautical mile range. The tracking on the GT-50 is also excellent, making driving easy. After our maneuvers, without the autopilot on, I barely had to touch the wheel as I drove all the way back to Newport harbor.

While my trip aboard the Palm Beach GT 50 was a quick one, it was easy to understand the psyche of this model. Whether partying at the dock or flying out too fast for a weekend island getaway, this boat delivers. The GT 50 is a pleasure to drive, knock out gorgeous looking, and has the range and accommodations for all kinds of fun.

Best4Boats Performance Snapshot

Palm Beach GT 50 w 2X Volvo Penta IPS 800 @ 600hp each

Performance Data Analysis – Palm Beach GT50

2X Volvo Penta IPS 800 @ 600hp each
Test based on two way averages of reciprocal course

https://www.palmbeachmotoryachts.com/models/gt50

Price available upon request.

Sarah Antona, West Coast Sales & Operations: sarah.antona@gbmarinegroup.com

Palm Beach GT 50 Specifications

LOA: 56′ 1″ (17.1 m)
Length On Deck: 50′ (15.24 m)
Beam: 14′ 8″ (4.48 m)
Draft: 3’3″ (1.00 m)
Air draft (to top of mast): 14′ 5″ (4.39 m)
Displacement: 30,468 lbs (13,820 kg)
Fuel Capacity (Diesel): 396 US gal (1,500 L)
Freshwater Capacity: 135 US gal (510 L)
Blackwater Capacity: 60 US gal (230 L)
Generator: (Fischer Panda 10,000i) 8kW / 50Hz
Standard Power: 2X Volvo Penta IPS 800 @ 600hp each
Advanced Composite Construction: Infused Hull w E-glass and Vinylester Resin. Deck, superstructure, hardtop liner, and internal structural bulkheads use Carbon Fiber for weight reduction.

Arnie Hammerman Publisher

Boats and the ocean define my life. From teaching sailing to captaining yachts, marine publishing, and marketing, I’ve spent decades sharing seafaring tales. At Best4Boats, adventure awaits—welcome aboard!

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