Pleasure seeker

This settee can double as a watch berth during a night passage. Opposite is a pair of loveseats in a fore-and-aft arrangement, suitable for a pair of couples, served by a cocktail table between. From the saloon, cockpit access is through a centreline door, where a transom settee welcomes alfresco dining. Stairs on the starboard side of the cockpit lead to the flying bridge, where a boat deck aft ships a tender and is served by a davit. The upper helm station has helm and companion seats while an L-shaped settee with a table invites more alfresco entertaining.

The two-stateroom layout has a galley down and features a starboard master stateroom amidships. The galley is just a few steps down the companionway from the main deck. Located to port, the galley has an atrium-like feel beneath the raked windshield, creating an airy space with natural light for the chef. The master has a private head with a walk-in shower, and a dressing area with a large hanging locker and enough stowage for extended cruising. The guest stateroom in the bow has use of the second head, located to port, which also serves as the boat’s day head.

The three-stateroom layout places the galley on the main deck on the port side, opposite the helm. The master is located in the bow, with a private head to port. A pair of double guest staterooms are amidships in a side-by-side configuration, separated by the amidships passageway.

The GB54 will have a fully infused hull with a sharp forefoot and semi-displacement warped shape.

The GB54 uses fully infused carbon fibre for the decks and superstructure to lower the centre of gravity. A fully cored structure is employed using PVC foam core and SAN Corecell in areas of specific application, sandwiched between skins of stitched multi-axial carbon fibre, bonded with vinylester and epoxy resins and supported by infused composite panels in a robust grid system.

The result is a hull that leaves minimal wake as it performs consistently throughout the rpm range, with the same running attitude and steering feel whether she’s running at 10 knots or 21 knots.

The standard engine package for the GB54 will be a pair of 725-horsepower Volvo Penta D11s, chosen for the model’s excellent low-end torque, efficient operation, and low sound and vibration levels. The efficiency shows in the performance but also the range, as the GB54 is expected to be able to cruise 1,000 nautical miles at 10 knots, with a fast cruise estimated to be around 27 knots at 70 percent load.

“The 54 will combine weight reduction, strength, and a low vertical center of gravity, just as we did on the 60 and 60 Skylounge,” says Mark Richards, CEO of Grand Banks. “We emphasize cruising efficiency both in our hull design and matching it with propulsion. Of course, efficiency is worthless without comfort, so we made sure the Grand Banks 54 will offer surefootedness in a wide range of sea states, and an interior worthy of extended time aboard.”

The new GB54 premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2019.

grandbanks.com