Model Introduction
The Grady-White 305 Express is part of the brand's lineup of family-oriented fishing cruisers, which also includes 33- and 36- ft. models. This attractive, open-ocean boat does many things well, including serious saltwater fishing"the brand's forte"while also offering comfortable accommodations, an enclosed head, a fully equipped galley and berths for up to 4 passengers.
Construction
The Grady-White 305 Express has a solid fiberglass hull bottom and balsa-cored hull sides with a supporting stringer and bulkhead system of pressure treated plywood (which comes with a lifetime warranty) encapsulated in fiberglass. Limberholes are cut through solid glass to prevent water absorption into the core. Plywood is used to core the transom, which is also supported by aluminum bracing, and the decks and hull-to-deck joint are sealed with a gasket and sealant and fastened with a mix of stainless screws and rivets. Foam injected in the voids between the hull and deck liner makes the boat unsinkable.
Hull Design
The hull was designed by C. Raymond Hunt and Associates and includes a deep entry, and high chines forward produce a smooth head-sea ride and transition to approximately 20° of deadrise at the transom. A warped bottom, with deadrise decreasing gradually all the way to the transom (called SeaV2 by Grady-White), produces greater lift aft and a more level ride on plane, resulting in improved propulsion efficiency compared to constant deadrise hulls, as well as improving sightlines ahead from the helm. Chine flats add lift and deflect spray on plane and form stability at rest.
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