Boating New Zealand — January 2018

30 Boating New Zealand

Grand Banks 60

SPECIFICATIONS

loa 19.9m (18.3m on deck)

beam 5.85m

draft approx 1.4m

weight 29,000kg dry

deadrise 6 o

construction cored GRP hull

cabins 3/4

bathrooms 3

engines 2 x Volvo Penta D13

900hp

fuel 5,800 litres

water 1,100 litres

holding tank 300 litres

cruising speed 27 knots

max speed 36 knots

WATCH IT

are two more on the flybridge – dominate

the uncluttered and practical timber-faced

helm console, which also has displays for the

autopilot, engines, Seakeeper and more.

Anuha II is equipped with a Twin Disc

Express Joystick System (EJS) for low-speed

operation. This actuates a combination

of engines, transmissions, propellers and

thrusters (bow and stern) in proportion to

the pressure exerted on the joystick, so the

vessel can be steered in any direction, crabbed

diagonally or slipped sideways – even rotated

in place 360°. It works well, allowing the finest

control in the tightest of situations.

Using EJS, Mark eased the big Grand Banks

away from her berth and out of the marina.

Once clear, he changed over to the conventional

QuickShift control and took hold of the vessel’s

large wooden wheel.

We motored slowly down the harbour’s

restricted speed zones before Mark unleashed

the big Volvos. Acceleration is pretty sharp

for a 60-foot boat, but the seamless transition

to planing speed and flat hull attitude was

equally impressive. There’s no squatting and

a very flat wake underway, which reflects the

hydrodynamics of the 60’s hull design. More

impressive still is the lack of engine noise –

this boat is supremely quiet, inside the saloon

(69dB), on the flybridge and in the cockpit,

allowing normal conversation.

As we approached the heads the swell began

to make its presence felt, but Anuha II simply

sliced through the waves, barely lifting her

bows. We cruised serenely out into the Tasman

Sea at 21 knots, a speed at which this vessel is

happy to travel all day long.

Outside, the swell was somewhere between a

metre, and a metre and a half. Mark stopped the

boat and put her beam-on to the seas, turning

the Seakeeper on and off to demonstrate how

well it works. This is a stable boat anyway, but

the Seakeeper still makes a difference.

On our way back in we pushed up to

24 knots at 1800rpm with a total fuel

consumption 180 litres per hour. At 10 knots

the range is an amazing 2500 nautical miles;

with IPS 1200s, top speed is 36 knots.

NEW ZEALAND-BOUND

The GB 60 is a large and luxurious cruiser

with the ability to make long, comfortable

ocean passages. Fast, fuel-efficient and nicely

finished, it is a modern twist on a traditional

style of vessel.

With hull number 14 now under

construction, the GB 60 has clearly hit the

mark: several boats are bound for Australia and

we can expect to see new generation Grand

Banks vessels in New Zealand in 2018. BNZ

PACKAGES FROM

POA

MANUFACTURED BY

Grand Banks Yachts

FOR MORE

INFORMATION

CONTACT

http://www.grandbanks.com

[email protected]

Smooth, quiet and

fuel-efficient with

a very flat wake

Comfortable live-aboard

long-range cruiser

Timeless styling

coupled with

modern construction

and equipment

HIGHLIGHTS