Grady-White 281 Coastal Explorer

Grady-White's versatile new 281 Coastal Explorer will satisfy adventurous anglers with big expectations of their boat.

- Randy Vance

Angler enthusiasm for for both inshore and offshore fishing is growing like Georgia cotton, and Grady-White's new 281 Coastal Explorer is feeding the frenzy. It checks every box for serious angling and family fun.

The 281 CE boasts a center line length of 27 feet, 7 inches, with a beam of 9 feet, 4 inches. It is designed to run nicely on a single Yamaha 450 XTO or dual F300s. Our test boat sported the latter, offering zero-to-30 mph acceleration under 5 seconds, impressive for a 6,500-pound boat. It posted a top speed in excess of 57 mph at 5,950 rpm.

I like the dual engines because you get better joystick response and all the Yamaha Helm Master EX capabilities. Yamaha's optional Full Maneuverability package is another worthwhile option that works best with multiengine setups.

The 281's SeaV2 hull sports a 16-degree deadrise at the transom that provides outstanding at-rest stability and a smooth ride. Running into southeast winds, we found a comfortable speed at about 35 mph. The 281 CE drafts 19 inches, making backcountry fishing easy to accomplish.