At last week’s Palm Beach International Boat Show Grand Banks, the pioneering developer of trawler-style cruising boats for family cruisers, tthrew he first celebration in 2026 of it’s 70th year in business. It’s hard to believe that the original company known as American Marine was launched in 1956.
Grand Banks, which is now part of the Grand Banks Group that includes Palm Beach Yachts and East Bay Yachts, started life on the waterfront in Hong Kong. With the introduction of the Grand Banks 36 in 1964, the builder created its defining essence. The salty, ship-like 36 footer invented the trawler category and changed powerboat cruising forever.
The Palm Beach celebration was the first of a seven-month series of celebrations that will happen at major boat shows around the world. The goal of the anniversary parties is to honor the innovations of seven decades and gather owners past and present to share stories about the Grand Bank’s special lifestyle.
Few boat builders can claim a legacy as consequential as Grand Banks. The company pioneered boat building in Asia and introduced innovative designs that defined a new market segment, cruising trawlers. Dozens of builders followed in the Grand Banks wake over the years but the septuagenarian has not lost a stride over the decades and is as relevant in the market today as it has ever been.
Mark Richards, the CEO and Chief Designer of Grand Banks, hosted the Palm Beach celebration and took the microphone to make a few remarks.
“People who know me,” he said, “know I am not someone who spends much time looking in the rearview mirror. But, when you reach a milestone like this, it’s worth pausing to recognize the pioneers, craftsmen, designers and the owners who built something truly special.
“Grand Banks didn’t just build boats, it helped define what long-range cruising could be. The responsibility we carry today is to honor that spirit of innovation while continuing to push forward.”
Under Richard’s leadership, the brand has been transformed. The chined, semi-displacement hulls, single engines and 8 knots of efficient cruising speeds have been replaced with sleeker, faster and much more high-tech designs.
Richard’s is a world-class racing skipper and has won the Sydney-Hobart race numerous times aboard the maxi racer Wild Oats. His deep knowledge of efficient yacht design led him to configure the latest generation of Grand Banks with V-Warp hulls that provide a very brisk turn of speed while giving owners an extremely efficient propulsion system for long haul cruising.
Part of the new Grand Banks equation is the use of high-tech carbon fiber and infused epoxy build techniques. This creates hulls that are much lighter than glass-fiber boats and much stiffer as well for a very smooth and even ride.
Today, Grand Banks builds six models from 54 to 85 feet and each comes with either flybridge or skybridge configuration. The only exception is the 54 which is either a coupe or a flybridge design.
The news for the 70th Anniversary is the announcement that this year, appropriately, the builder will introduce the new Grand Banks 70 that fits between the existing 65 and 73 in the line.
Turning 70 is a rarity in the boat building business. It is fair to say that Grand Banks is doing it in style and proving that old dogs can definitely learn new tricks and can still lead the way in design, construction and customer support.
