Was the GW 265 Express hull used in any other model ?

Formakatim , That hull was used only for the 265 Express. I would love to see that boat redesigned, updated with the same transom. Great Boat!
 
That mold was only for the 265.
It's probably in some warehouse now!
Actually there should be 2 molds because '00-'02 models
had a 21 deg dead rise and '03-'05 models were 20 deg!?
 
My understanding is that they stopped making that boat because they weren't selling enough of them. I (like you), own one and love it! Probably the greatest pure fishing boat GW has ever produced? I wonder if enough of us banded together and asked GW if they would consider bringing that design back in bigger boat? Dont all the brochures say how they listen to their customers?
 
The older hull paired with the new Yamaha motors would be nice but doubt it'll happen.
 
You say the boat was discontinued because they weren't selling enough of them?

How about the Sailfish being discontinued ?
Same reason?

The problem with the 265 is it wasn't in line with today's multitasker -Grady potential customers, too fishing based. IMHO

ie. there's nothing in the stern design attractive to anyone else but Fishermen.
 
I agree about the stern design. Whilst it is perfect when you are in the boat and fishing out of it. Some more substantial boarding platforms either side of the motors would allow easier entry and exit whilst if designed correctly, help to divert lines away from the props.

In the tropics we are usually in and out of the water most trips and this would accomodate that.

What i wouldn't want to see is any wide bait tanks, storage compartments etc. across the transom, or motors on pods . The fold down transom works brilliantly ( in fact it is what sold me on this boat, I wasn't looking for a Grady specifically) and we love how the rest of the features and amenities are distributed in the boat.

However it would seem that the marketing guru's have had their way and a more multi purpose boat is perceived as Grady's market. Or maybe the 265 was ahead of it's time and with the advent of more and more fishing ie. contender, yellowfin, etc boats and the need to regain some market share in these tough times, will see a rethink. LOL
 
eppem said:
My understanding is that they stopped making that boat because they weren't selling enough of them. I (like you), own one and love it! Probably the greatest pure fishing boat GW has ever produced? I wonder if enough of us banded together and asked GW if they would consider bringing that design back in bigger boat? Dont all the brochures say how they listen to their customers?
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Bring it back as a 28. Add a foot in the cabin and a foot in the cockpit and redesign the electronics box to get it away from the windshield and increase visibility. Raise the foredeck center area for a little more headroom and you'd have it IMO.
 
The 265 Express was / is only a fishing boat with no room to sunbath. Totally against Kris' and GW's new policy of building sunbathing platforms for woman only. Sorry guys, you need to look else where to spend YOUR money for a fish only vessel. :lol:
 
NA2P said:
The 265 Express was / is only a fishing boat with no room to sunbath. Totally against Kris' and GW's new policy of building sunbathing platforms for woman only. Sorry guys, you need to look else where to spend YOUR money for a fish only vessel. :lol:
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I have to disagree with that comment. My wife and daughter put the cushions up on the foredeck and lay out there.
 
We should forward this thread to GW, I would leap at a larger boat with the 265 layout. Huge selling point for me also was the fold down transom, most if not all boats now have the "euro-transom". Eats up way to much space in the back of the boat. Yes, every salesman will tell you that you dont land a fish from the stern and every good fisherman will tell you that you must work a large fish from the corners, but it just doesn't always work like that, (ask mr mako).

I bring a chair for the boss (aka the wife), for family outings and cruises. My two girls 15 and 12, love the boat, will layout on the bow or actually fight for the best seat in the house (the starboard lounger in the shade).

If they could make this boat a tad larger and toss in the aft sleeper it would be a no brainer for me.
 
Not sure you'd get an aft sleeper in the cabin without sacrificing something else like fishbox space and/or fuel capacity. But if they raised the foredeck they could possibly get bunks in above the V-Berth. We only overnight on our boat a few times a year but it's a little cramped.
 
Yeah, you can. But have to totally go out of your way and put some thought into your trip out front. Once again TOTALLY out of their sundeck policy. Lets be realistic here, that 265 was built for 1 thing, fishing. Not so with the latest line up except for the center consoles, and they could use some rethinking too.

You also need to realize a true fisherman wants a boat he can lean over the side and touch the water. We fish, not joyride.
 
Grady has extended their arms like Elastic Girl around everything possible in the creation of boatkind - even into the foray of cats with two models not just one. How did that work out?

So that's their marketing plan to me from observation only.

I'll never see a Grady open back glass pilothouse 27 for us colder bone / colder weather northeast /northwest coasters/lakers - since the lady folks will say:
" looks too much like a tug boat".

And plenty of men will say that too, none I care to know.

Me and my kind are obviously out numbered.
 
I like the idea of that layout on the 28 sailfish hull or for that matter the 29. They must have a few of the molds - just rework the transom.

While at it, I would make a decision on the 29 or 30 foot walk. I don't understand why they bothered with the 29. Pick one and make a 33 walk to give some seperation.

If were up to me, I would have dropped the sailfish down to a trailerable hull and if the same walk layout offer one configuration of seating (single helm chair and companion seat) versus making it a 29. I would update the Marlin and introduce a 33 walk off the 33 hull.

But, I'm only in the peanut gallery.
 
You say drop the Saifish down to a trailerable hull ?

That's what an Islander was!
 
Since they replaced the Sailfish with the 29 Chesapeake, I have wondered whether they would be bringing a version of the 26 Express back as it would fit nicely between the wide 23 (Gulfstream) and the Chesapeake. However, Grady's market evaluations may show that the demand for a mid-20s cabin boat isn't strong from their customer base. It could be that their customers want additional amenities that force you into a larger boat and can afford to pay.
 
To me the 29 is like a swiss army knife that has everything (spoon, knife, fork, scissors,...). GW tried to stuff too many things in a boat that will not do anything well. It's not a Marlin and not going to be a Marlin. The 265 is basically the same size as the old 25X Sailfish/Dolphin which with a bracket is the same size as the 282 Sailfish. To redo it as a fisherman's model, take the Sailfish hull, give it a little more deadrise and ditch the eurotransom. With the added room you can have the fuel capacity of the 265 and the extra bunk of the Sailfish. Oh yea and no matter which style (WA or express), the windshield goes to the hardtop.

If you want a generator have a sealed compartment for a Yamaha portable generator.
 
Grady is closed for the week, I just left an email stating that we are having this conversation, what would it take to revisit this express design in a larger boat, etc. More to follow!
 
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