Haute Yachts: Grand Banks Is for Grand Explorations

The Grand Banks brand has long been known for quality engineering and construction, traditionally appealing interiors, and cruising comfort. Its Heritage, Eastbay, and Aleutian series of yachts give boaters a variety of styles, sizes and performance ranges from which to choose. Those of you looking to add a new flagship to your fleet should consider Grand Banks’ newest flagship, the 72 Aleutian SC.

A raised-pilothouse design, the 72 Aleutian SC is an evolution of the 72RP, which was the builder’s previous flagship. While both measure 72 feet overall and have a nearly 20-foot beam, there are some significant differences. The 72RP was known for its split-level main deck, where the cockpit was a few steps lower than the saloon and dining area. It was a nice way to distinguish the indoor and outdoor relaxation areas. With the 72 Aleutian SC, however, Grand Banks decided the areas should be on a single deck level. The benefit is a smoother flow of foot traffic between the enclosed and alfresco spots and more engagement between people in both areas.

Another change is the number of staterooms. Grand Banks customers have been asking the builder for an extra stateroom to take more friends and family members on cruises. As a result, the 72 Aleutian SC has the option of a fourth stateroom. It’s a twin-bed setup, located just forward of the full-beam master, along the starboard side of the yacht. If you don’t want or need the extra sleeping space, Grand Banks situates an office here in the standard layout. (Don’t plan to work while you’re cruising? No problem: Consider it your floating Internet café, where you can send family and friends at home photos of your travels and make them all jealous.)

Of course, not everything about the 72 Aleutian SC is a departure from Grand Banks tradition. You’ll still find beautifully book-matched teak wall paneling in every room (Grand Banks sources all its own teak, for quality control). From a performance perspective, the yacht employs the same hull design, speed, and range that brought the 72RP — indeed, the full Aleutian lineup — to prominence. Standard twin 1,015-hp Caterpillar engines push it to reported top speeds exceeding 23 knots. Dialed back to a leisurely 10 knots, the yacht should see a reported range of 1,000 nautical miles. Of course, because Grand Banks offers all of its clients flexibility, you can also opt for higher-horsepower engines. Twin 1,150-hp Caterpillars are said to permit a 25-knot top end and 21-knot cruise.

With benefits such as these, it’s no wonder Grand Banks says the Aleutian series is rapidly growing in popularity both stateside and around the world.