Boats for the busy Executive

An old friend of mine recently ordered a brand new GradyWhite Express 330. It is a first for Singapore. Its really a 36 footer and fitted with a pair of Yamaha 4-stroke 250Hp OBMs. (my personal favorites). Being a Grady, the price tag is a hefty S$500K on the water. What's unique about all this, is the fact that the buyer has owned a 62 foot Flybridge cruiser just before he made the order. Why this size 'downgrade' Certainly, it has nothing to do with the budget. The buyer can well afford a 120ft mega-yacht. There's appears to be a paradigm shift amongst seasoned boaters, from Bigger is Better to Smaller could be Smarter. Especially if the only time you can afford is a quick weekend getaway. The Express 330 was purchased with this advantage in mind. With her 350gal fuel tank & a cruise speed of 28 knots, you could leave for Pulau Aur on Saturday morning , dive & fish in the afternoon & Sunday morning and be back at the marina by nightfall without refuelling. Accommodation would be onboard, she sleeps 5 comfortably with all the creature comforts of home; air conditioning, heads with shower, tv, music, fridge and a galley to boot. Another unique advantage is, you don't have to hire a captain & crew to man the boat, you could easily captain it yourself. This boat would be very much at home within the confined waters of Singapore, as she would be offshore. She is versatile enough to be anchored just off the beach or in the middle of the South China Sea. When you've finished using the boat, it sits on a dry berth, either a float-lift or on a trailer, well clear of barnacles & damage associated with a wet berth. Even if the next trip was 3-6 months later, she would be ready, good as new to serve her owner on his next sea adventure. No headaches and little maintenance is needed. What's unbelievable is, this express cruiser will look as good as new 10 years from today, a fact proven by many Grady owners all over the world and now more than ever in Singapore.