Grand Banks GB54: it can be fast, it can be slow, it is a cruising companion

Construction of Grand Banks 54 is underway. The new GB54, latest born from the Singapore shipyard, is a semi-displacing yacht capable of 32 knots, and will debut at the 2019 Cannes Yachting Festival in September.

First of all, a clarification: the new Grand Banks GB54 used to be named GB52 in previous news. Despite the name change, it is well underway to be launched in Cannes in September. GB54 follows the launches of Grand Banks 60 and GB60 Skylounge, and will advance the yard’s strategy to create yachts with strong and lightweight hulls and comfortable interiors.

The perfect cruising companion

The interior of the GB54 will combine traditional yacht interiors with contemporary styling and, as always, the craftsmanship that has been a hallmark of every Grand Banks yacht. The yacht will come with either a two- or three-stateroom layout, while the joinery consists of sustainably grown tight-grain teak and complementary fabrics.

Both layouts benefit from a large saloon seating area with an L-shaped sofa to port, served by a dining table. This settee can double as a watch berth during, say, a night passage. From the saloon, cockpit access is through a center door: a staircase to starboard leads to the flybridge, where a tender can be launched and lifted by a davit. The upper helm station has companion seats, while an L-shaped sofa with a table offers more alfresco entertaining.

The GB54 uses fully infused carbon fiber for the decks and superstructure to lower the center of gravity

The two-stateroom layout features a starboard master stateroom amidships. In this case, the galley of Grand Banks GB54 is just a few steps down the companionway from the main deck, to port. It is located beneath the raked windshield, creating an airy space with natural light.

The master stateroom has a private heads with walk-in shower, and a dressing area with a large hanging locker and enough stowage for extended cruising. The guest stateroom to bow has use of the second heads, located to port, which also serves as the boat’s day heads. The three-stateroom layout places the galley on the main deck, opposite the helm. The master is located in the bow, with a private head to port. A pair of double guest staterooms are amidships and share the second bathroom.

The GB54 will have a fully infused hull with a sharp forefoot and semi-displacement shape. The design is meant to stay in the water and slice through it, an approach that started with the GB60. Like her older sister, the GB54 uses fully infused carbon fiber for the decks and superstructure to lower the center 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 fiber, bonded with vinylester and epoxy resins and supported by infused composite panels. The result promises to leave minimal wake and to perform consistently throughout the rpm range, with the same running attitude and steering feel at 10 or 21 knots.

The standard engine package for the GB54 will be a pair of 725 hp Volvo Penta D11s: Grand Banks 54 is expected to to cruise 1,000 nautical miles at 10 knots, with a fast cruise estimated to be around 27 knots at 70 percent load.

New in 2018: Grand Banks 60 takes performance to a new level. Really

Owners will have the chance to cooperate with Grand Banks through the purchase process, in order to meet their needs for the perfect tailor-made cruising yacht. Although the standard equipment list for the GB54 is not yet complete, the boat will include a 15-kW generator, reverse-cycle air conditioning, an entertainment center, a refrigerator and freezer, a tender with outboard and a davit on the boat deck. The main item left to owner’s discretion is the navigation electronics.
The new GB54 will premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2019.