25ft journey or 26 express

[Bigrig1786]

Hi
I’ve looked at both boats both have great features and not so great but still it’s a Grady
Question to you all is I’m 6ft5 and We are a family of 4 I love fishing offshore and also taking the family out for a drive/cruise
Has anyone on here been on both before
What are both like at rest at sea drifting as much information would be great I’ve noticed on the journey a lot of twins with only 150hp but with the express notice 200 2stokes or 225 4 strokes is the journey underpowered with only 150s
It’s a shame they stopped building the express
Thanks

 

[Greyduk]

I have a GW 248. It is essentially the same as the GW 258. It has twin 150 2 strokes. It is not under powered at all. It will cruise at 27 MPH at 3600 RPM and hit 50 MPH at 5400 RPM. Very responsive in all ranges. It is for sale if you would want to consider that as an option.

 

[drbatts]

The 265 express is a big boat for a 26 and probably more comparable to the 282. The express is a foot wider, heavier and carries about twice the fuel compared to the journey. The journey has a narrower beam with less trailer restrictions. If you happen to see the boats net to each other this is evident. I cannot personally speak on the handling of the journey, but owned a 265 for 10 years. The 265 is a tank and can go through a lot for a 26ft boat, it will also drift very nicely. Pre 2002 most were powered with 200hp 2 strokes, then F225's from 2002 on.

 

[Uncle Joe]

AS DRBatts stated....if you are concerned about the boats behavior while drifting...(I drift for sharks all the time in my 24 Offshore) then go for the wider beam. If I could change 1 thing on my Grady it would be to add 1 ft in the beam.

 

[Fishtales]

The Journey can trailer easier and with the 8'6" beam no special permit required. I think you could get away trailering the 26 express but a sharp LEO eye can change that.
The starboard helm or the center. I think the starboard is better but your choice. 3' difference in cockpit size nothing to me. I'd go on price and if even, the newer the better assuming like condition.

 

[RussGW270]

I cannot add much, but sure hope you post photos of whatever ya get

I do like the 26...looked at a couple of those pretty hard. I'd give up some top speed to get a heavier wider boat, but my truck would not tow it.. so.. heh

GL!

 

[SeaVee]

Love my 265 but if you have to trailer a lot you’ll need a 3/4 ton truck to pull her around. She’s beefy! My family loves the express helm and the berth and shower below

 

[Uncle Joe]

Beautiful rig SeaVee

 

[SkunkBoat]

I'll reiterate much of what was said but..

They are two different classes of boat so you are not deciding between two boats you are deciding between two kinds of boating.
Are you thinking of trailering each time and keeping the boat at home or getting a slip?
The Journey is a big trailerable boat at 4000+ pounds and 8'5" beam.
The 265 is a small Express but it definitely feels like an Express. Its way bigger than a Journey.
Its a great boat to hang out on as well as take 100 miles out to the canyons (on a great weather forecast).
Its really NOT a trailerable boat in the real sense. Yes there are guys who trailer. It requires a permit and an expensive tow vehicle. and balls.
Having it hauled and blocked & hauled & launched each season is way cheaper and easier than a trailer and a truck.
Getting a slip for the season is expensive but you can use the boat a lot more and even hang out at the marina (Some have swimming pool & grills) and "camp" in the boat
We sit in deck chairs with a beverage or two and wait until the striper bite goes off under the docks.

 

[RussGW270]

I would hate to trailer a wider boat.. lol.. I would definitely have a heart attack

 

[Bigrig1786]

Thanks all
It would be on a trailer and I would rather tow than put it in a marina or slip we go camping every year so boat would be in tow e we it’s us
I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel yes I brought Jeep what information I have found is the express is around 6500lbs 2.8ton and the journey is about 5500 lbs 2.4ton mind you that’s nothing in the boat it’s definitely hard to choose as they are all beautiful boats

 

[family affair]

You are going to have a tow capacity issue, even with the Journey. A Journey with twins, hardtop, fuel will be over 8k lbs with the trailer. The 265 will be around 10k lbs.

 

[SeaVee]

When we built my trailer we figured 9kish but fully fueled and ready to fish I’d agree 10k is realistic. I don’t trailer too far, mainly have it for doing maintenance, going to the shop, etc. Fishing buddy has a 26 Reg Express so we both share the trailer. I would not pull it with a Grand Cherokee

 

[glacierbaze]

Thanks all
It would be on a trailer and I would rather tow than put it in a marina or slip we go camping every year so boat would be in tow e we it’s us
I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel yes I brought Jeep what information I have found is the express is around 6500lbs 2.8ton and the journey is about 5500 lbs 2.4ton mind you that’s nothing in the boat it’s definitely hard to choose as they are all beautiful boats

If a ton is still 2000lbs, 6500lbs is 3.25 tons, and 5500lbs is 2.75 tons.

 

[wrxhoon]

Well that depends on what kind of ton we are talking about ,in US of A a ton should be 2000 lb but a metric ton as used in most of the world is 1000 kg, about 2204 lb.
My seafarer 228 g weighs about 3100 kg ( 6800 lb) on an aluminum trailer . I very much doubt a Journey would only be 5500 lb rigged up on a trailer . I would think with twins and gas she will be close to 8000 lb on trailer . Even dry without any gear or gas twins will put you close to 7000 lb.

I wouldn't tow either boat with a Jeep.
Under powered with twin 150's, depends what you call under I guess. Top speed 38.5 knots (43 mph) . I always like maximum power and I think that is 350 hp for that boat so not far off.
Have a read on this write up of 2007 model as tested in our rough Pacific off Sydney.
https://www.boatsales.com.au/editorial/details/grady-white-journey-258-10227/

 

[Fishtales]

You are going to have a tow capacity issue, even with the Journey. A Journey with twins, hardtop, fuel will be over 8k lbs with the trailer. The 265 will be around 10k lbs.

Family is right. The boat is 4040# (not sure if hard top is included), motors prob add 1200#, fuel 800#, trailer 500#, gear 200#. It will be in the 7-8K range for sure for the Journey. Leave some headroom in the calculation as well. You don't want to be on the max.