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Random Quote: This is no democracy. However, I do like to hear any well thought out, reasonable suggestion. ONCE. (Bus Mosbacher, America's Cup Skipper)
The local Sea Hunt dealer told me that their 22' center console will run circles around the Grady. The Grady dealer told me that the Sea Hunt was a "throw away boat" after a few years. Obviously you have to consider the source...
Does anyone have any first hand experince on both boats. I know these boats are in a very different price range. I would be looking for an older used 22 center console or seafarer Grady or a newer used equilevent Sea Hunt.
I have a 2003 Grady White 226. I have not been on a 22 ft Sea Hunt, but prior to my Grady I owned a 1994 Proline 220 which had the same deadrise and beam as the Sea Hunt, however the Proline's hull was about 700 lbs heavier than the Sea Hunt's.
Grady White 226 specs: Deadrise at transom: 20, Beam 8', hull weight: 3,383 lbs
I can tell you this. In rough conditions, the difference in ride between my Grady White 226 and Proline 220 is night and day. In situations where my Proline would pound, my Grady White would ride softly. I don't think I could go back to owning a boat with less than 20 degree deadrise at the transom.
Your more likely to get the superior ride from the Grady White than the Sea Hunt. Keep in mind that Grady White did change their hulls at some point in the 90's. Their newer design they refer to as their SV2 hull. I have heard that hulls prior to that time frame did not ride as well. So be careful how old you go with the Grady.
Based on the differences between the Grady 226, and the Sea Hunt 220, I would imagine the Sea Hunt would be more economical fuel wise.
Don't let the 8' beam of the Grady White 226 fool you. You'd be inclined to think there is less cockpit space due the 6" less beam. That's not the case. Due to the 3 piece design, Grady White uses all of the floor space, all the out to the hull. Two piece designs may have a wider beam, but there's alot of wasted space between the inner liner and the hull. Also, not having a euro transom, you get more usable space from helm to stern with the Grady.
Salesmen will tell you anything they need to in order to make a sale. Even Grady salesmen. Disregard what they tell you.
Take both boats for a test ride in similar conditions. That is the only way to know for yourself.
BTW, have you looked at the Sailfish brand yet?
__________________ Grady White SeaFarer 226 w/Yamaha F225 - SOLD
A few years ago when I was looking for a 22 footer I was split between the same boats - Grady 226/228 or a Sea Hunt 225 Victory. There was a gentleman on here who had the Victory and told a story about he and his buddy, who had a Grady 226. He said in the ocean with any significant waves the Grady would run away from him. But, back in the river he had the advantage over the Grady. I have been extremely happy with my 228.
I have a Sea Hunt Triton 240 and the ride is excellent and it certainly is not a "throw away boat". Never rode on a GW. The reason for my reply....I live at the Jersey shore. An older lady in the area lost her husband and wants to sell his boat. It's a 1988 22' GW Seafarer. I looked at it and it's in pretty decent shape and was repowered a few years ago. She's looking to get 8K for it but may consider any reasonable offer. Just thought you might be interested. If so, send me a PM.
I've had a ridfe on both Sea Hunt & Grady-Whites, several models. No doubt, it's tough to beat the SeaV2 hull configuration. Makes the boat smooth and tracks like she's on rails. The Sea Hunt quality of hardware dose not compare with Grady---no bash to Sea Hunt. Customer service is great from Grady---not too sure about the Sea Hunt C service, but they don't compare according to JD Power. I know how everyone loves JD Power, but hey, they do the survey thing and have the numbers.
Not a comparison at all. All I can say is there are not very many boats out there that last 20+ years... But gradys do. If your in it for the long haul choose grady white
i fished a 22 dual console grady for years. we took that boat 70miles out all the time and got caught in some nasty conditions. it is a very very good riding boat. It was a '93 hull and we beat the sh1t out of it and it held up great. Only downfall is that it is wet. ive never ridden on the 22 sea hunt but i would be willing to bet that it would not take what we put that grady through and still be in great condition.
I have some friends that got passed up by a sea hunt 22 heading offshore. They were on a 2006 27 contender and enjoying the smooth ride while the guys on the sea hunt were beating the crap out of themselves. They just thought it was funny that they got passed by a sea hunt. When Sea Hunt first came out I thought of them as a bottom of the line boat, but they are making a great name for themselves. I haven't seen any problems with sea hunts deteriorating more quickly than other boats. If you are deciding between a GW and a Sea Hunt, I would go with a Grady.
I have the Grady 222 CC and it rides pretty damn smooth. That being said I dont have much to compare it to. My last boat was a Scout 185 Sportfish. I bought the Grady brand new 3 years ago and it cost an arm and a leg, $$69k fully loaded but no regrets.
My point exactly. You can get a 2008 260 Sea Hunt for $10,000 less than that. And that price is from 3 years ago. Now you can probably get a 290 for the same price.
Ed,
You have a good point, if I were buying a new boat I would definitely get more boat for the same money with the Sea Hunt. However, I am really only looking for a 22/23' boat and buying a new Grady is way out of my price range as would the larger Sea Hunt. You can buy a slightly used 22 Sea Hunt for the low 30K range, maybe less. I would be looking at a similarly priced Grady, hopefully with newer motors.
The Sea Hunt will probably run circles around the Grady, if the Grady is standing still. Similarly equipped and sized, I would expect the Grady to be a somewhat better riding boat due, in large part to its weight. I own a 22' Sea Hunt Escape Dual Console and it weighs 2,450 pounds before adding the motor, gas, etc. I would guess the same size Grady will top 3,000 pounds. Deadrises are probably somewhat similar. I have never ridden in a Grady but have in my Sea Hunt and it has a pretty good ride, albeit with my limited experience. I was looking at the Gradys, Boston Whalers, Scouts, Hydrasports, Edgewaters, SeaSwirls and the Sea Hunts when I made the decision over three years ago and the Sea Hunt seemed to be to be a very good boat for the money. So, I bought a Sea Hunt. The "Top Tier" boats listed at over $20,000 more than the boat I bought, similarly equipped so I just decided to save a little money and have more to spend on other parts of my life. I can't, however, tell you which is the better boat or which one rides better, at least from personal experience.
By the way, I would suggest that customer service from Sea Hunt, my personal experience as well as many others, is first rate. The guys there, Joel and Jai, are wonderful to work with and seem to go out of their way to make a Sea Hunt owner's experience first rate.
__________________ jal
2009 Crestliner Superhawk 1900
175 Optimax Pro SX
Dodge Ram 2500 HD Cummins Diesel
The Grady is a heavy boat I must say, it weighs 3170lbs without the engine. That being said it uses a heck of a lot of fuel I cruise at 4000rpms, 30mph and get about 3mpg.
I own a 23 Sea Hunt Triton and I'm very happy with the ride ,performance and fuel economy.
That being said however I do think there are much better riding boats out there including the Grady. You always give up something to get something and what the Grady gives up compared to the Sea hunt is fuel economy and affordability( see Yamaha performance page and price tag). What Sea Hunt gives up compared to a Grady beside superior quality shows up when the seas pick up to around 2 1/2 feet, the ride will pound you if you don't back down.
I've had my Sea Hunt 30 miles out at least a dozen times now and have been caught in some 3-4's and while its not fun I've never felt threatened. The Sea Hunt makes offshore fishing affordable to a Blue collar stiff like myself where Grady contenders .... are out of reach.
The Sea hunts run just fine,I would do as previously stated "buy a bigger sea hunt".Since 2000 Grady and the others Reg,Pursuit,Whaler,Triton,Parker have put themselves into a different stratosphere with prices.I own a 2000 23 Grady that I ordered 35,000 cheaper or "less expensive"than the 2008 boat show specials.Pat L
Better Ride? 22 Grady White or Sea Hunt 
