Grady White’s New 23 CC – Fish Hard!!!

It almost seems silly to “test” a Grady-White sometimes, because after more then a decade of boat testing (including virtually every model Grady has on the water,) I know what I’ll find before I even see the boat: flawless fit and finish, heavily-built construction, and a well thought-out design. Yet Grady-White still manages to slip in a surprise now and again. When I ran their new Fishermen 230 rigged with a 300 hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard the other day, it fit the Grady mold perfectly. There’s not room for an entire boat test here, but let me give you some of the highlights; first, a picture:

The new Grady White Fishermen 230 center console

 The first and biggest departure from the norm is to be found in the T-top. It’s integrated into the console, eliminating those toe-stubbing pipework bases on the deck. Some other builders have tried this and encountered structural problems, but Grady White built this rig super-stout by integrating aluminum braces into the console which tie into both the top and the stringer system.

Another highlight: the door to the console head compartment, which swings open onto a magnetic catch, has a back-up strap to hold it open. Okay, okay – hold your laughter – I know this sounds like a minor detail. But I’ve tested dozens of boats with magnetic door catches and have been complaining about them for years, because a strong breeze or a sharp roll is all it takes to pop them free. Let’s see if you still think this is a minor detail after a few fiberglass doors slam shut on your fingers. Maybe it’s not a “major” development, but it does show that Grady White puts some actual real-world experience and thought  into their fishboats.

You want to hear more about the Fishermen 230? Head over to www.HookedOnFishingBoats.com and you can read a stem-to-stern review there, including hard numbers on the performance and efficiency we experienced during our test run across a choppy Biscayne Bay. The review will be on the home page all week, and will live on forever on the Center Console pages. Enjoy!

Lenny Rudow is Senior Editor for Dominion Marine Media, including Boats.com and Yachtworld.com. With over two decades of experience in marine journalism, he has contributed to publications including Boating Magazine, Marlin Magazine, Boating World, Saltwater Sportsman, Texas Fish & Game, and many others. Lenny is a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht Design who has won 28 BWI and OWAA writing awards.