Grady White is a center console boat builder. They offer ten “Fisherman” or “Canyon” fish boat models. Fisherman and Canyon are Grady White model names for a  center console fish boat.

Why then, does seabuddy / chris brown and others think of Grady White boats as a walkaround cabin boat builder?

Let’s go back in time and see the answer.

During the 1974 model year, Grady White saw an deck and layout boat design at a Chicago Boat Show. They liked it, so why it did not sell well? Their insight said it was the usual hull shape of a cross between a Tri-Hull and Catamaran Hull. But, it’s short forward located cabin with a foot well recess going around that small cabin to the bow for fish fighting offered real benefits over a open center console. Gtady White reasoned that by putting that small forward-located cabin and walkaround on their vee shaped hull would match that “liked” deck design to their better running hull design and at the same time give Grady White a real one-upmanship over other boat builders.

Thus the 1975 Overnighter Hatteras 204-C was born.

This model made the fresh water boat building company more of a salt water boat builder and with a unique model usefulness that gave Grady White a ten year head start over other fish boat companies. They had the style when others did not and built a good boat. Thus, the walkaround fish boat and Grady White became its signature style and the style image that most boaters think of when they hear “Grady White”..

Outboard Boats–

• Pontoon Boats / Party Boats  20,680
• Bass Fishing Boats 22,442
• Center Console Fishing Boats 12,690
• Fish & Ski Boats (dual purpose design features) 3,055
• Walk a round Boats 1,762
• Bow Rider Boats 822
• Express Fish boat 325
• Runabout Cuddy Boats 235

Stern Drive Boats–

• Bowrider Boats 17,974
• Deck Boats 3,159
• Express Cruisers 2,681
• Runabout Cuddy Boats 1,221

Inboard Boats

• Ski Boats 6,500
• Cruisers Yachts 3,000

Inboard Cruisers

• Express Cruiser Yachts (top design category for inboard cruisers this year) 1,572
• Sedan Yachts 399
• Motor yachts, aft cabin motor yachts 333
• Trawler Yachts, trawler styled yachts 237
• Convertible Fishing boats / Yachts 231

Inboard cruisers only sold at a 25% rate of their top sales year rate

Stern drive boats only sold at a rate of 33% of their top year

Outboard boats are off about 50% from their top year

Pontoon Boat and Bass Fishing Boat sales drive the outboard motor boat market Bow Riders rule the Stern Drive, I o, Inboard outboard power and drive market, Cuddies sell at less than 10% of the sales of an open bow / bow rider design Ski Boats (and vee drive Wakeboard Boats) are the only designs that still sell the inboard power drive system (pre-WW I design) in a small boat. All other small boats use a drive system that has the ability to “tilt” and “trim” the prop for gas savings and a better ride.

Over-head boat photo of the Mastercraft boats CSX 220

Photo of X-25 Mastercraft cockpit that uses the same Mastercraft hull

Is it going from a Direct Drive inboard (engine in the center of the boat) to a V-Drive inboard ( the engine at the back end of the boat)?

Will the rear mounted V-Drive inboard system improve the fuel economy and top speed over the direct drive set-up (42 – 43 mph with a 400 Hp engine in a 22’ boat)?

Has Hydra-Sports center console boats now ended the entire CSX center console model line at Mastercraft by 2013?

For 2010, Mastercraft reused their CSX 220 hull for their new X-25 water sports boat.

This hull is known for its good tracking, high wake, and inspiring a sense of handling confidence in its driver.

The Mastercraft X-25 now outsells the CSX 220.

Will the Mastercraft CSX 220 deck and cockpit layout go away entirely for 2011 or 2012?

How will new 2011 models of the Hydra-Sports boat line also owned by the same parent investment companies, effect marketing, sales, and the dealers for Mastercraft boats and their salt water model line-up?

Are there big discounts coming soon to the Mastercraft dealerships, as Century Boats is offering to their dealers now?

All of this is just the opinions and open questions of 30 year veteran of the marine trades, Chris Brown, seabuddy, and not yet known.

Eight outboards on one boat?

No, it looks that way, but its two center console boats with four outboards each, slipped next to each other.

Top – of – line Chairs for two fishermen – flip-up bolster, arm rests, good sight lines are all here.