Grady-White Freedom 255
By Dean Travis Clarke
Heading out of North Carolina's Beaufort Inlet in a wind-against-tide maelstrom, I started rethinking the plan to fish offshore. Sixty-foot sport-fishermen were turning around once they experienced the eight to 10foot seas outside the harbor. We joined them.
I understand that serious fishermen may scoff at a dual-console design. But those who want the multitasking abilities to keep their families happy may want to consider this marine utility vessel since you can fish it very comfortably.
Performance
The 350 hp Yamaha four-stroke really moved the 255 off the mark quickly, zooming to 30 mph in just more than 10 seconds. With a healthy load of people and gear, the Freedom hit a top speed of 47 mph, burning 34.5 gph. Most noteworthy, however, is the optimum cruise. At 29.2 mph (4,000 rpm), the 255 burned a modest 13.3 gph for a remarkable range of more than 300 miles! That equates to greater than 2 mpg.
Comparatively, a 300 hp outboard (without a hardtop and with a lighter load) sacrifices 312 mph of top end but claims the identical cruising speed of 29.2, turning 4,300 rpm while garnering better fuel economy at 12.6 gph. That's 2.32 mpg.
In a three-foot sea, the boat rose and fell with no pounding, cruising at 28 mph. With the standard hydraulic trim tabs, the Freedom displayed a remarkable range of trim possibilities, and the seas made me appreciate the excellent handholds everywhere.
Drifting beam-to in the ugly inlet, the 255 exhibited a moderate roll moment with very gentle transitions and mildly noticeable noise from chine slap. A turn to run down-sea offered handsoff control!
Wheel hard-over turns showed exactly the right amount of stern slide and speed bleed so that you need not worry about this boat biting you. In fact, the Freedom 255 had absolutely no untoward performance characteristics.
Fishing
Insulated fish boxes — one 20-gallon under the port bow seat and an additional 43 3/4-gallon under the starboard seat — create a total of 63 3/4 gallons of fish-box space, which drains directly overboard.
To offer this vessel as a family cruiser, Grady made some of the normally standard fishing options elective on the Freedom. For example, the 27-gallon livewell in the transom, complete with full-column intake and a 1,100 gph raw-water pump, is an option. But the padded gunwale bolsters still come standard.
Should you need to get out on the engine bracket area while fighting or gaffing a fish, you'll be surprised at how clean it is. You can walk across it without stumbling over anything.
Grady supplies three rod holders under each gunwale and two in each rail, plus two in the transom. You can of course put more across the outside transom.
Trolling between 5 and 7 mph, I saw only modest subsurface and virtually no surface white water.
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