Grady-White Canyon 386

Outside Port Everglades, Florida, 18-knot southeast winds drove 4- to 6-foot seas to the beach, and so our test of Grady-White’s new Canyon 386 was going to be a wild one. Standing protected by the expansive hardtop and enormous windshield, we brought it up on plane in a 25 mph zone and were pleased with the way the SeaV2 hull stood its ground at speeds that left some vessels laboring to stay on plane. 

Even in turns, the triple 450 Yamaha outboards held the boat on top while carving crisp circles. We looked forward to lighter winds predicted for late afternoon to press the throttles down for high-speed testing.

After dropping anchor with the standard windlass, we turned to the abundant interior features. One of the most amazing aspects of this 36 ½-footer is its extra-wide aft cockpit. Grady engineers achieved this feat by narrowing the gunwale widths on each side of the cockpit where the the port and starboard side doors are located. This results in a lot more aft deck space for fishing, as well as socializing. 

With the integration of two side-boarding doors, Grady eschewed transom doors in favor of two transom livewells, a healthy 35 gallons each. There’s also a refrigerator/freezer with a digitally controlled thermostat in the transom, which are good for cold drinks or chilling the catch—no need to haul 100 pounds of ice on your outings. 

Grady also thought about cleanup. After handling fish, cleanup with fresh- or raw-­water washdowns that pull out of the transom between the starboard livewell and fish box. 

Six rod holders on each gunwale—with a toe rail beneath for gaff play—handled plenty of trolling tackle. There are also six rod holders in the hardtop, with an additional six in the leaning post above the rigging station. Undergunwale rod storage included three rod hangers under each amidships and two under each gunwale at the bow. There were even four vertical rod holders in the console cabin. 

The rigging station serves double duty thanks to an optional Kenyon grill under the Corian surface and a sink to port with a trash can under its hatch to starboard. Below the rigging counter we found a large cabinet designed to hold utility tackle boxes, tools and utensils. On the transom, we found two more cabinets to stow tackle boxes.

Everything is in place to pull aboard pelagics and load them in fish boxes below the seating at the bow. But if an evening cruise or a day trip to a popular beach is on the agenda, the 386 stands ready to serve there too, with plenty of creature comforts for days when fishing’s not a priority.

In the aft cockpit, we found a super comfortable fold-out transom bench seat that accommodates three crew members, and it folds away quickily and easily for fishing. Ahead of the console is a large double lounge with fold-down armrests on the right, left and center. Wraparound seating at the bow is thickly padded, with snap-in cushions and comfortable seatbacks that raise on electric actuators to provide forward-facing lounge seating with legs stretched forward on the cushions. With the seatbacks flat, the console lounge and bow seating make for a cozy conversation area, complete with coaming pads for the seatbacks.

Grady is known for marine styling with classic lines, as well as comfort and ­luxury. It’s nowhere more obvious than belowdecks in the console ­cabin. There, Architectural Digest meets Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Lush vinyl, generous portlights, teak wood trim and recessed lighting bring an elegant look and a much larger feel than the 13-plus-foot beam might have hinted. A dining table is ­surrounded by seating and converts to a V-berth when the table is lowered and a cushion is added. 

You enter the cabin through a pocket door on the port side of the bridge deck. The door slides easily out of the way and out of sight. This companionway on the bridge deck eliminates doors that can block walkways as with side entries. Inside the cabin is a serving ­counter with a pair of drawers beneath it and a television above. A microwave, fridge and sink are on the starboard side. The circuit-­breaker panel is easy to manage along the companionway, and the back of the helm panel is accessible via the head compartment.

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In the aft starboard corner of the cabin is the large enclosed head compartment with a stylish sink and a stand-up shower. You will find more than 6 feet of headroom, as well as a portlight and mirror positioned to give the area an even more ­expansive feel. 

The wind hadn’t settled even a single knot, and seas were still uncomfortably tall and tightly spaced, but we were confident the SeaV2 hull would take us through them while we logged speed and ­fuel-consumption numbers. My mate jotted numbers while I called them out as I managed the wheel, throttles and trim. 

With barely a degree of tabs to keep the stem into the seas, the 386 loped through them confidently while the hull, hardware and furnishings shrugged them off with the same firmness that has earned Grady-White every customer satisfaction award offered in the industry. 

The Canyon 386 lives up in every respect to that hard-earned reputation for pleasing boaters and anglers alike. 

Specifications

Grady-White Boats – Greenville, North Carolina; 252-752-2111; gradywhite.com