Grand Banks has started construction on its new 54, an elegant, efficient two-or-three stateroom cruiser that will make its debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival next September. In earlier announcements, Grand Banks had called the new boat a 52, but it’s grown a bit. It also comes in the middle of a growth spurt for iconic builder, following on the heels of the Grand Banks 60 and Grand Banks 60 Skylounge.
The new 54 also will have the high-tech, lightweight, warped-hull design as that on the 60; it stays in the water and leaves little wake throughout the speed range. In both boats, Grand Banks uses fully infused carbon fiber for the decks and superstructure to lower the center of gravity, which increases their running efficiency and cruising comfort.
“The 54 will combine weight reduction, strength and a low center of gravity, just as we did on the 60 and the 60 Skylounge,” says Mark Richards, the CEO of Grand Banks. “We emphasize cruising efficiency both in our hull design and matching it with propulsion.”
Powered by standard 725-hp Volvo diesels with straight shafts, the 54 has a range of 1,000 nm at 10 knots, and a fast cruise of 27 knots. It is expected to top out at 32 knots. The same engines paired to Volvo IPS950 pod drives are optional.
Grand Banks yachts are known for the craftsmanship and woodwork in their interiors, and the 54 follows this tradition. “A yacht that can cruise efficiently for a thousand nautical miles should have an interior suited to the task as well,” says Richards.
The salon is filled with light from large windows all around. It has an L-shaped settee to port, which can double as a watch berth on an overnight passage, with a teak table. A pair of smaller settees are to starboard, with a cocktail table. The helm, with seating for two, is to starboard.
A centerline door aft leads to the cockpit. It has a settee across the transom, with a table, for alfresco dining or lounging. Stairs on the starboard side lead up to the flybridge. The helm chair is on the centerline with a companion chair to port. A large L-shaped settee with a table are aft a bit to port, and the boat deck, with a davit, is aft.
In the two-stateroom layout, the galley is down to port, where it is bathed in natural light from the raked windshield, and the master stateroom is midships to starboard. The master has a private head with a walk-in shower, a dressing area and enough stowage for extended cruising. The guest stateroom is in the bow with the head, which also serves as the day head, to port.
In the three-stateroom layout, the galley moves up to the salon on the port side, opposite the helm. The master is in the bow with the head to port. A pair of double guest staterooms are midships. The starboard guest stateroom has private access to the second head, which is also the day head. It is just across a passageway from the second guest stateroom, to port.
Grand Banks is making the 54 an almost-turnkey cruising boat. It comes with a 15kW genset, reverse-cycle air conditioning, an entertainment center, fridge and freezer, a tender with an outboard on the boat deck with a davit, and canvas. The owner just needs to choose the electronics that fit his taste.
Specs.: LOA: 59’5”; Beam: 17’6”; Draft: 3’1”; Disp.: 47,400 lbs.; Fuel: 898 gals.; Water: 290 gals.; Power: 2×725-hp Volvo D11s with straight shafts. Optional: 2×725-hp. Volvo IPS950 pod drives.
