We just learned that the Palm Beach show, scheduled to start on March 26, has been postponed as a result of the coronavirus crisis. We will have details later, when we learn more.
The new Grand Banks 54, with its classic lines and semi-displacement, warped-hull performance, was scheduled to make its worldwide debut there. Powered by twin 725-hp Volvos with straight shaft drives, this latest Grand Banks tops out at 31 knots, cruises at 26 knots, and has a range of about 1,000 nm at 10 knots.
The new 54 has the same high-tech hull as the popular Grand Banks 60 (and 60 Skylounge), and it too uses fully infused carbon fiber for the decks and superstructure to keep the boat light in weight and to lower the CG. The warped hull, developed by Grand Banks President Mark Richards, keeps the boat running efficiently in the water throughout the speed range. (I rode on the 60 on Long Island Sound and it barely left a wake at any speed.)
Hull number one of the 54 is a two-stateroom, galley-down boat, made with Grand Banks’ legendary craftsmanship. It has a relatively low profile for a 54-foot boat, a long, broken sheerline, and a graceful tumblehome aft.
The salon is filled with light from windows all around. It has an L-shaped settee to port, which can double as a watch berth on an overnight passage. Another L-shaped settee is to starboard, with an expandable teak table on a stainless pedestal. The helm station, with seating for two, is forward to starboard.
Glass windows are aft, with a glass centerline door leading to the cockpit. It has an aft settee, a fridge/bar forward to port, and stairs to the flybridge to starboard. The entire cockpit is protected by the extension of the flybridge above. A gate on the starboard side leads to the large, teak swim platform.
Below, on the port side, the galley is bathed in light coming in from the large windows above. The master stateroom is to starboard, with a walkaround bed, a private head with a walk-in shower, a dressing area and lots of storage space. The guest stateroom is forward, also with a large berth; its head, which also is the day head, is to port.
Up top, the flybridge has a centerline helm chair; a co-pilot’s chair is to port. A large L-shaped settee with a teak table is aft to port, with a bar to starboard. The boat deck is aft, with a davit.
Although the straight-shaft drives are standard, Volvo IPS950 pod drives are optional. They too are married to 725-hp Volvo diesels.
Specs.: LOA: 59’5”; Beam: 17’6”; Draft: 3’1” (IPS), 4’0” (shaft); Disp.: 47,400 lbs.; Fuel: 898 gals; Water: 264 gals.; Power: 2×725-hp Volvo straight shaft drives.
