Grady 275 Freedom rolling issue

pmentesana said:
When people are walking, the boat leans \ rolls. It also leans with no one moving based on the water conditions. I had a local Grady dealer take a ride and he said there is nothing wrong, it's just how this hull reacts with a deep vee and narrow beam. This combined with slow hydraulic tabs makes for a poor driving experience.

OldRusty
I have tried just using one tab switch and it does help.

I am going for a ride on a boat equipped with the Seakeeper ride system to see if it's worth $14K.

Thanks for everyone's input!
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I just drove my new 306 Canyon 50 miles back to my marina (first trip with her), 290 gallons of fuel, me and 2 friends aboard, no heavy gear.
Yes she rolled/listed some times from wave action of if one of my friends moved around or stood on one side and i consider that normal for a such size and hull type boat, real deep v boats with 22+° dead rise behave much worst regarding that.
I could fix the listing with just one short press of the button and i tried to run her with trim tabs down about 1/3 to keep the bow down when waves where 3ft and SmokyMtnGrady may be right that also my 306 Canyon run a bit more stable with trim tabs deployed a bit. However, the use of trim tabs has a negative impact ons speed and thus fuel economy, yesterday i lost about 2 knots with the trim tabs 1/3 down.
Half of the way back was rather calm water and despite the fuel she run great and level with no trim tabs at all what show a well designed weight distribution.

Honestly i suggest you to use your Freedom for a while to experiment with weight distribution and get used to the slow trim tabs,
but using continuously either engine trim or trim tabs under calm and reasonable choppy conditions is not the correct way and the underlying problem should be addressed. Maybe i am bossy but i told my clients (and do the same with my friends) to stay seated, seat on another place when above planing speed, mostly for their own safety and second to avoid listing from wrong placed and/or shifting weights.

However, SK Ride system as the more affordable ZipWake system will do what you want, keep automatically your boat levelled at speed. If you are fine with forking out 14K for the Sk system then that will 95% solve your problem, i would not as i am not a fan of electronics who may interfere with other electronics (Autopilot f.e.) what may lead to undesired and potential dangerous situations.

Chris
 
I have a 2024 Freedom 275 and don't experience the issues you are seeing while cruising in Tampa Bay and the Gulf. I do find it annoying about the slowness of changes when I hit a button but I generally have one stop at a time and all works well. I have the dual 200s
 
pmentesana said:
Thanks everyone, this is extremely helpful.

I understand and agree with everyone's comments about waiting for the tabs to adjust. However, the boat just seems to need frequent adjustment even when I give it more throttle. I guess after so many years with electric tabs I am just set in my ways and impatient.

I tried to trim the engines and not use the tabs much and it did help.

I am waiting for a sea trial on a boat with SeaKeeper ride just to see if they would
pmentesana said:
Thanks everyone, this is extremely helpful.

I understand and agree with everyone's comments about waiting for the tabs to adjust. However, the boat just seems to need frequent adjustment even when I give it more throttle. I guess after so many years with electric tabs I am just set in my ways and impatient.

I tried to trim the engines and not use the tabs much and it did help.

I am waiting for a sea trial on a boat with SeaKeeper ride just to see if they would help.
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I’ve heard good things about seakeeper ride . I would give that some serious thought. Sounds like a good solution if you want to be hands off. Pricey but should work well.
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The statement that the tendency to roll or the response to changes in the tabs angle is less for electric tabs versus hydraulic is misleading
The electrics are indeed usually quicker to move when actuated but the end result at a set angle would be the same regardless of actuation type. In the case discussed here, I suspect that the OP who has admitted he is set on his old ways :) needs to be a bit more patient. He is probably over compensating. Hit the tab button for 2 or 3 seconds and then give the boat some time to react.
In summary, if you are holding the button the same amount of time that you did for electrics, you are under trimming. If you are holding the button until the hull reacts, you are probably over trimming.
Although somewhat complicated, the tendency of a hull to roll is related to two major factors; The ratio of the length of the hull over the water line divided by the beam over the water line and the relationship to the center of floatation to the center of gravity. In other words, the tendency to roll is mostly determined in the hull design.
 
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if you have the $$ to toss at SK Ride, its seems to be a tremendous improvement in all aspects of the boats ride. i dont think you would be disappointed. you just have to have to be able to swallow the price tag.
 
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And the required annual maintenance. It isn't cheap.
Note that depending on model, the Seakeeper gyro can take an hour or so to come up to operating speed
 
seasick said:
And the required annual maintenance. It isn't cheap.
Note that depending on model, the Seakeeper gyro can take an hour or so to come up to operating speed
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nothing to spool up. SK Ride is not a gyro. it replaces trim tabs and has a motion sensing pack that feeds a computer which adjusts the trim "blades" up to 100 times a second to correct for pitch, roll, and running attitude. instant effect and maintenance shouldnt be much more than regular trim tabs
 
seasick said:
And the required annual maintenance. It isn't cheap.
Note that depending on model, the Seakeeper gyro can take an hour or so to come up to operating speed
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My bad!
Somehow I thought the OP was looking at Seakeeper gyro stabilizer. Sorry for the confusion
 
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I have had 2 freedom 275s and used both almost exclusively on the local lake. My first one had twin 250s and the command elite chair WITHOUT a beverage station. I purchased it after owning a SeaHunt Gamefish 25. When I first started using the first 275 I noticed it listed to port when underway as c/t the SeaHunt that I had owned prior. That did bother me quite a bit and then I noticed it did not list as much once I trimmed the motors adequately (3-5 bars on the CL gauge). For whatever reason (perhaps hull design, cockpit layout, length to beam ratio with the 275) I did not have to do that as much with the SeaHunt Gamefish so it took me a while to get used to it. I did try the hydraulic trim tabs but eventually I just ran the boat almost exclusively using engine trim and ignored the trim tabs unless my family situated themselves to port. My second 275 had twin 200s and the rear facing beverage station and it still listed but a bit less-perhaps as there was more weight with the captain's electric benchseat/beverage station to starboard??? In any event it just didn't bother me as much as when used the first 275. I almost never used the trim tabs with the second 275. I thought it handled well and I could turn on a dime while underway pulling tubers without any slip or engine cavitation. IMO the 275 is a bit tender c/t other GW models but once I got used to it I had no problems. On occasion I'd ask folks to distribute themselves more equally port to starboard but that was rare. I have a 285 now and it doesn't list as much-perhaps as the length to beam ration different??? I'm guessing a center console may list less as as seating layout tends to be more symmetric with centered helm. I've never been on a boat with the new SK ride but I'd keep at it with your 275 as is for a while and hit 4-5 bars on engine trim to lift it out of the water. I'm not a professional boat captain or expert by any stretch but those are my lay person thoughts.
 
pmentesana said:
I recently purchased a 2021 Grady White Freedom 275 and have been disappointed with the boat. The boat is equipped with Bennett hydraulic trim tabs, and I have experienced rolling \ listing and find it difficult and annoying to level the boat while driving at speed. I have never used hydraulic trim tabs before, and they are sluggish, and the boat frequently needs adjustment to run level. I find myself pressing the button for a second or two to find the level and then pressing again after it goes too far the other way.

For background I have owned several single engine boats (17’ Whaler, 21’ Grady, 24’ Scout) over the past 30 years all with Lenco electric trim tabs with no issues.

I am concerned that the boat at 27’ is too long for an 8’6” beam and is the reason for the rolling. I have read a few complaints about this online on this model. I am trying to figure our if I am doing something wrong or if this is fixable. I am waiting to do a sea trial with a Grady dealer to see if this is normal for this boat.

So far, I see the following options:

  • Convert the Bennett hydraulic trim tabs to electric for under $1K to improve speed to level the boat.
  • Convert to Bennett self-leveling tabs for a few thousand. I have heard negative feedback about this from my mechanic.
  • Install the Seakeeper Ride automatic tabs. They seem interesting but would require the boat’s trim tab pockets to be removed and would cost ~$15K.
I would be interested to hear if anyone else with a Grady Freedom 275 has a similar issue and how you resolved it.
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Same issue, new 2025 Freedom 275. with the big hardtop the weight and wind loading makes the hull roll over on its chine and is very slow to come back. I traded in my Grady 232 expecting this to ride better. big mistake .
 
To both john perkins and pmentesana
The better solution to correct listing by incorrect load/pax distribution than using trim devices is to position weight accordingly to not need trim devices to correct listing and to tell pax to not walk around when boat is planing, for listing and particularly for their safety.

I would verify if this is really a boat issue as you write (what is possible) or a user error, your dealer may come with you to check the problem and may solve it.
If this does not help a SeaKeeper Ride, ZipWake or Humphree auto trim control would eliminate your problem, but at a cost.
Seakeeper Ride is the most expensive, ZipWake and Humphree are a bit less costly, but you may need to have some glass work done to close the trim tab pockets.
Bennet has a automatic AutoTrim Control, but using existing trim tabs it is much slower to react than the Interceptor style blades the new systems i mentioned above use, however it may be the least expensive option to have a automatic trim control. I never installed or used it, so not sure how well it works but doing a search should reveal some user reviews.
You may contact GW directly regarding this issue and may look around for a certified installer of either brands i wrote above to get a idea of the costs.
Chris
 
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That hull is known for rolling. You can make some adjustments with the motor trim. Play with that with no tabs. Keep an eye on the bow. Too far down and you will plow the waves. Too far up and you may cause the bow to swing dramatically.
Then experiment with the tabs. If you are pressing the tab button until you see a difference, you are pressing too long. Yes there is a delay in the tab deployment but there also is a delay in the hull's response. So press for a few seconds and wait to see how the hull reacts. Over tabbing can cause all sorts of instabilities
 
John perkins said:
Same issue, new 2025 Freedom 275. with the big hardtop the weight and wind loading makes the hull roll over on its chine and is very slow to come back. I traded in my Grady 232 expecting this to ride better. big mistake .
Click to expand...
From my experience with a similar hull, you are trimming your engines too far down or in. Trim your engines up to around the ½ way part of the range after you are on plane. Take a look at your engines to make sure they are indeed trimmed per the gauges and not off kilter. From there you can add tabs as needed, but as advised, in small increments.
I now have about 100 hours with the 270. I too experienced the issues discussed about the 275. The hull is more sensitive than others, but proper trimming has made all of my perceived issues go away. Early on I thought I had made a mistake moving to this boat due to the handling characteristics of the hull. I now whole-heartedly enjoy and appreciate what it can do now that I understand what it needs to run properly. Keep experimenting!
 
Sardinia306Canyon said:
I just drove my new 306 Canyon 50 miles back to my marina (first trip with her), 290 gallons of fuel, me and 2 friends aboard, no heavy gear.
Yes she rolled/listed some times from wave action of if one of my friends moved around or stood on one side and i consider that normal for a such size and hull type boat, real deep v boats with 22+° dead rise behave much worst regarding that.
I could fix the listing with just one short press of the button and i tried to run her with trim tabs down about 1/3 to keep the bow down when waves where 3ft and SmokyMtnGrady may be right that also my 306 Canyon run a bit more stable with trim tabs deployed a bit. However, the use of trim tabs has a negative impact ons speed and thus fuel economy, yesterday i lost about 2 knots with the trim tabs 1/3 down.
Half of the way back was rather calm water and despite the fuel she run great and level with no trim tabs at all what show a well designed weight distribution.

Honestly i suggest you to use your Freedom for a while to experiment with weight distribution and get used to the slow trim tabs,
but using continuously either engine trim or trim tabs under calm and reasonable choppy conditions is not the correct way and the underlying problem should be addressed. Maybe i am bossy but i told my clients (and do the same with my friends) to stay seated, seat on another place when above planing speed, mostly for their own safety and second to avoid listing from wrong placed and/or shifting weights.

However, SK Ride system as the more affordable ZipWake system will do what you want, keep automatically your boat levelled at speed. If you are fine with forking out 14K for the Sk system then that will 95% solve your problem, i would not as i am not a fan of electronics who may interfere with other electronics (Autopilot f.e.) what may lead to undesired and potential dangerous situations.

Chris
Click to expand...
My 282 had the same issue especially when people moved around the boat. Installed the Bennett auto trim, 1 hr EASY install. Works great. Just remember to activate it if your batteries were turned off.
 
Yes, the Bennet AutoTrim will do the same as SK Ride, ZipWake or Humphree, but considerable slower as trim tabs move slower than interceptors.
It will work great for listing problems and to keep boat trimmed on same level, but will not provide the magic carpet effect no roll, list and pitch at speed SK Ride and the others offer.

If one has the $$$ for SK Ride than he get a smooth ride under most sea conditions, i personally have no problem using the engine and trim tabs trim switch to level my Canyon according to sea state and as i wrote, not pax walking around and if boat lists then i tell to one of them to move to the other side.

I had a 28ft Panga in Costa Rica and she was extremely tippy due the narrow beam and i learned to distribute the weight according to sea state and boat load, but on her auto trim control probably would have been comfortable (like probably on the Freedom 275 as well) but i see no need on my 306 Canyon.

Chris
 
I have a 2012 255 Tournament with a 350 Yamaha, with hydro Bennett tabs. I use the tabs a lot but 99% it is the Starboard BUTTON that I use. Rarely use the Port button and never both tabs at once. Watch the led bar and as others state, push briefly and then see how the boat adjusts.
 
pmentesana said:
I installed a SeaKeeper RIde 550 and the problem is resolved.
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you cant just leave it at that...we need a full review!!

i actually think that you are the first on this site to have them. we would love to hear some more in-depth assessments and observations
 
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