Can anyone give me any feed back on the freedom 215. I put A deposit on one and would love to hear if anyone owns one and what there experience has been. Is the ride okay for a smaller boat in a choppy bay? Do riders in the front actually stay dry? Thank you for any input!
2020 Grady White Freedom 215
- Thread starter Mad1971
- Start date
I have the Freedom 205 which the 215 replaced. I can give you my respective because I have to believe the 215 would be a little better being they increased the length and widened the beam by 5 inches. Far as getting wet, like any boat, it depends. Usually if you are up on a plane with bow up it is pretty dry. It is when you have to back down with a large boat wake or wave it can get pretty wet.
Deposit is refundable . We liked the boat and boats are selling like hot cakes on Long Island . Test drive this weekend
luckydude
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I have a 228 which is a similar hull but decked in bow with a cuddy cabin. If you have anything but calm water nobody is gonna want to be in the bow, they'll get bounced around. I fish the Pacific ocean so I like the enclosed bow, it's safer. I'm a newbie so salt my words heavily, but if you are going on the ocean, that boat would give me pause.
I've been chatting with Luckydude about this topic. I'll chime in here as well since it's a quiet afternoon.
To answer these kind of questions accurately, the info needs to be more specific. "A choppy bay" means different things to different Captains. Is it a small, mid-size or large bay?
The term "choppy" is also subjective. A choppy day on Sarasota Bay is much different than the same day on the Chesapeake Bay.
Although I am not familiar with the Freedom 215, I can give a broad brush generalization. Anything over 10kts and 2 foot seas will bounce you around on a fairly large open bay, although you can optimize conditions with trim & tabs. Your passengers in the bow will stay reasonably dry up to 15kt winds. Beyond that, foam streamers start appearing on the surface, the wind will pick up bowspray and get your riders wet, although not constantly. A lot depends on the angle you take the waves as well. Anything on the bow or port/starboard quarters will be bouncier than seas taken on the beam or stern.
Here's where the size of your bay comes into play. if it's 2 miles across and 5 miles long, a 215 will be fine in most anything up to 20-25kts. In other words, most any day will be doable unless it's raining & gloomy. If it's a significantly large bay, then the winds really matter and you should pick your days.
When planning your outings with your friends, avoid days over 10kts. Not that it's unsafe, it's just not as comfortable. Again, this is a generalization..I don't know anything about where you will be boating, nor how gutsy your friends are. One thing I know for certain is that how happy & contented the girls are while on board has a profound impact on the success (and the duration) of your cruise.
New boats are wonderful things; Congrats!
To answer these kind of questions accurately, the info needs to be more specific. "A choppy bay" means different things to different Captains. Is it a small, mid-size or large bay?
The term "choppy" is also subjective. A choppy day on Sarasota Bay is much different than the same day on the Chesapeake Bay.
Although I am not familiar with the Freedom 215, I can give a broad brush generalization. Anything over 10kts and 2 foot seas will bounce you around on a fairly large open bay, although you can optimize conditions with trim & tabs. Your passengers in the bow will stay reasonably dry up to 15kt winds. Beyond that, foam streamers start appearing on the surface, the wind will pick up bowspray and get your riders wet, although not constantly. A lot depends on the angle you take the waves as well. Anything on the bow or port/starboard quarters will be bouncier than seas taken on the beam or stern.
Here's where the size of your bay comes into play. if it's 2 miles across and 5 miles long, a 215 will be fine in most anything up to 20-25kts. In other words, most any day will be doable unless it's raining & gloomy. If it's a significantly large bay, then the winds really matter and you should pick your days.
When planning your outings with your friends, avoid days over 10kts. Not that it's unsafe, it's just not as comfortable. Again, this is a generalization..I don't know anything about where you will be boating, nor how gutsy your friends are. One thing I know for certain is that how happy & contented the girls are while on board has a profound impact on the success (and the duration) of your cruise.
New boats are wonderful things; Congrats!
Ah, new boat smell. I love me some polyester resin VOCs. I had a 192 and the bow was dry in most conditions I used the boat from the Florida Keys to the St. Johns River and her big lakes. I thought it was a drier ride than some 21 foot center consoles I rented in the Keys. I would fish my 192 on good days 25 off chasing dolphin and black fin tuna. It's a sea worthy hull and imagine the 215 is too. Congrats on the boat!
luckydude
GreatGrady Captain
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Yes he has been chatting with me, and like this post he just did, he knows what he is talking about (I'm a n00b so I could be wrong but I doubt it) and he takes the time to walk you through his experience. Magicbill is one of my favorite people here and that says a lot, there are great people here. He just seems to take the time to really walk you through whatever question you have, he'd make a great teacher. No disrespect to all the other people who have helped me, this forum is a cut above most, way better than the hull truth or bloody decks, so go all of you, but this guy when he says "I'll chime in" I am all ears. +1
Awww..thanks Luckydude. Your kind words are much appreciated.
This is indeed a great forum; we all pick up useful info and make new friends to boot.
Thanks again for the nice stuff you said. Made my night.