The $9 million flagship Grand Banks 85 is a dynamic tour de force. The focus on high-speed efficiency and cruising comfort is laser focussed, so much so that at 20 knots with the standard IPS1350 1,000hp engines it will cover 1,000nm. Astonishing.
On board, it’s a feast of high-quality timber and mouthwatering detail. Just wait until you see what they’ve managed to include in the owner’s stateroom. We managed to get on board for a tour at Cannes Yachting Festival 2022 so read on to find out.
Grand Banks GB85 Skylounge Key Facts
- LOA 26.58m
- Model Year 2022
- Cabins 3
- Crew 1
- Max Speed 28 knots
- Status In Production
- Yacht Type Trawler Yacht
- Use Type Cruising
Review Video
The Grand Banks 85 takes over from the GB60 as the flagship of the range, stretching the V-Warp hull philosophy into its biggest form yet. At 26.5m with a 22ft beam, this is a yacht that's been built for long passages but still approachable for an owner to run. The whole deck and superstructure are carbon fibre, vacuum infused to save weight and boost strength. Bulkheads and fixed furniture are bonded into the hull, so they add rigidity instead of just sitting there. It all helps keep the structure light, strong and quiet, while giving the 85 a remarkable cruising range for a boat of this size.
There’s plenty of choice in how you set the boat up. Owners can go for the enclosed skylounge seen on hull number one, or opt for an open flybridge instead. On the main deck, you can remove the bulkhead completely for a single flowing living space, or keep it in as here, for a little separation between saloon and galley. Below, the options run from a full-beam master stateroom with generous ensuite to four- and even six-cabin versions, with berths for up to nine. The master ensuite itself can also be configured in different ways – one layout even runs the bathroom right across the beam with twin vanities.
Hull number one shows just how personal these choices can get. Its master suite has been reworked to move the bathroom, and there’s even a piano set into the cabinetry - a first for a Grand Banks. A small bunk cabin has also been added near the master, giving the owner’s grandchildren a cabin close by.
Beneath all this, the 85 carries the latest evolution of Grand Banks’ V-Warp hull. It’s a hull shape that starts fine at the bow and flattens aft, so the boat runs level at speed rather than lifting its nose and digging its stern. Less wetted surface means less drag, so you cover more miles for the same fuel. Put that together with a carbon fibre superstructure and vacuum-infused build, and you’ve got a yacht that’s lighter, stronger and more efficient than most of its rivals. It’s why the 85 can cross 1,000 miles at a fast cruising speed of 21 knots, or stretch to 3,000 miles if you ease it back to 10.
Step into the sanctuary of the saloon and it really is lovely in here - warm, welcoming and with loads of flexibility in how it can be laid out. On this boat there’s a generous sweep of seating along one side, sociable and comfortable, with a high-gloss table inlaid with the Grand Banks insignia.
Drop-down windows bring fresh air through the space, so you’re not always leaning on the air conditioning, and the television pops up neatly from the sideboard to port, a very typical Grand Banks touch. Overhead, solid handrails run right through the saloon, giving you something to grab hold of as you move around. It’s a detail you don’t often find in such a wide saloon, but it makes the space feel properly practical at sea.
Then there’s the finish. Teak with soft curved edges, no sharp corners anywhere, so you’re not going to bang into anything if the boat is moving. It’s a space where you can breathe in the quality and craftsmanship, but it still feels forgiving and easy to live with.
Forward, the layout here is quite interesting. You can actually remove the bulkhead completely and have it totally open-plan, but this owner wanted a bit of separation between the galley and the dining space. The galley itself feels like a proper working galley – home-from-home whether you’ve got crew or not. There’s cooling space tucked below, and a domestic-size fridge over to one side. Storage has been thought about too – you’ve got a section that pops up instead of eating into the countertop, which works really nicely.
Opposite, there’s the internal dining area. On this boat it sits just forward of the saloon, close to the galley for serving. It’s comfortable, practical, and yet another example of how the 85 can be arranged to suit how an owner likes to live on board.
There’s also a small docking station here. It’s not a full helm, but you do get bow thruster, IPS controls, wiper switches and a Volvo Penta start-stop panel. From this spot you can stick your head out the side door and bring the boat into a mooring with a far better view than you get up at the main helm.
Skylounge
One of the key features of the GB85 is the skylounge. It carries that same home-from-home vibe as the rest of the boat – warm, soothing, and very usable on a long passage. There’s a big L-shaped sofa, a television that pops up from behind the helm, and a bar area with its own cooling space, sink and dishwasher. It means guests up here or outside on the aft deck don’t need anyone running back and forth to the galley below.
Ventilation has been thought through as well. You’ve got a drop-down window aft, sliding doors, and even a sunroof overhead. So you can open it all up and let the air flow without always relying on air conditioning.
Owner's Cabin
Head amidships and down a further run of steps and you arrive at the master cabin proper – and this is a really lovely space. Even with the engines running it feels like a proper oasis, almost like a library in here, it’s so, so quiet. That calm doesn’t change much even when the boat is moving quickly, so it feels more like a room than a cabin.
This particular owner has gone for some very personal touches. The most extravagant is a piano that pulls out from under the joinery – a first for me, I’ve never seen a piano on a boat before, so fair play to them and to Grand Banks for making it happen. The bathroom has also been moved over to one side, which frees up a lot more space and adds to that feeling of it being more of a hotel suite than just a stateroom.
The finish down here hums with quality. Glass partitions that you can adjust for privacy at the touch of a button, twin sinks, and a proper separate shower cubicle with teak-laid floor. Storage is abundant, and the bed is set low and easy to move around. It’s a space that feels generous, quiet, and very well resolved – exactly what you want from the heart of the boat.
VIP Cabin
Forward on the lower deck you find the guest accommodation. To starboard there’s a twin cabin with its own ensuite - a really good size, nice and bright, and with headroom that’s astonishing throughout this interior, even in the bathrooms.
Ahead of that sits the VIP. This is a lovely cabin with loads of floor space, which makes it feel very luxurious. The headroom is towering again, and there are plenty of storage options built in. The bed is set nice and low, easy to move around, and a proper size too. It has its own ensuite bathroom, complete with teak-laid floor – another one of those details that just pops out.
Between the owner and the forward cabins there’s also a day head in a sensible spot, so guests don’t need to dip into cabins during the day.
Extra Cabin
There’s a small crew cabin, very close to the owner's cabin - really more of a bunk cabin, possibly good for the grandkids and that sums it up. It’s not huge, but it works well if you’ve got younger family on board or if you want an extra berth close to the owners.
On this boat it feels like more of a family overflow than a traditional crew space, but the GB85 has been designed with flexibility in mind. Depending on how you specify it, the aft quarters can be arranged as proper crew accommodation, with multiple berths and even their own galley area. Or, as here, it can double as another guest cabin when family are the priority.
This is a really commanding driving position. The wheel itself is adjustable, and the bench seat is both comfortable and close enough to the dash that you feel right in the action. Everything is easy to reach and interact with. In front are three large displays, and this boat’s fitted with cameras everywhere – a FLIR forward-facing unit, two in the engine room and one on the bathing platform – so from here you can genuinely see every corner of the boat. Add in the extra screens for chart and radar, and it makes for a magnificent place to drive from.
Performance on the GB85 is something special. This particular boat runs with Volvo Penta IPS 1350s at 1,000 horsepower each, though shaft-drive MANs are also available. At 25 knots it’ll cover around 650 nautical miles, and if you drop the speed back to 9 knots you’re looking at 2,500 nautical miles – an incredibly wide cruising range for a fast planing yacht. Top speed is in the high 20s.
The reason it feels so capable is the construction. There’s carbon fibre throughout the hull and superstructure, which makes the boat about 20 tonnes lighter than a Ferretti 860. You feel that in how quickly it climbs out of the hole, how quiet it is, and how comfortably it runs at speed.
The aft deck on the GB85 has that very American feel to it, thanks to a fantastic serving station built into the transom. Lift the hefty lid and you reveal a big Kenyan grill, with another sink and more cooling space alongside – you’re not going to go hungry or thirsty out on this deck. An L-shaped bench wraps around a dining table here, and the table itself is on a high-low mechanism. Drop it down, add a couple of infill cushions, and it becomes a sort of daybed.
This boat has been kept quite open in this area, but being Grand Banks you could have fixed furniture added if you wanted something more permanent. Either way, it works as a proper sociable hub at the water’s edge. Just a few steps down, the broad swim platform gives you a base for swimming, boarding the tender or setting up the toys. There’s also a camera on the platform itself, so from the helm you’ve got eyes on everything happening back here.
Side Decks & Foredeck
The 85 is a really easy boat to move around on. You’ve got high guard rails and wide side decks, with cover over those decks as you head aft – details that make it feel safe and straightforward to use at sea. The beam is 22ft, and you sense it in the space you have along the side decks and in the way the boat carries its volume forward.
The foredeck itself is kept simple on this hull. A run of hatches feeds natural light down into the cabins below, and ahead of that is a sun pad for stretching out. Grand Banks designed the area to be flexible though – layouts allow this zone to be fitted with extra lounging or dining space if an owner wants more from it. It’s unfussy and one of those spots where you can step away from the busier main decks, sit with the breeze in your face, and enjoy the views on a long passage.
Upper Aft Deck
Step outside and the upper aft deck is another good gathering point. On hull #1 it’s been left open, but owners can configure it with furniture or even use it for tender stowage. However you set it up, it works as a useful extension to the skylounge - close enough to the bar inside, but open to the elements when you want it.
Our Verdict
So there you have it – the Grand Banks 85. You could probably spend two weeks on this boat and still not pick out every little detail that makes it so impressive. It’s a yacht that’s easy to move around on, with wide side decks, high rails and proper grab handles overhead. Inside it feels warm and welcoming - curved teak edges, no hard corners, and layouts you can tailor to suit how you want to use it. What really comes across is how personal the boat can be. On this first hull there’s a piano hidden in the master and a little bunk cabin for the grandkids. It shows what Grand Banks can do when an owner wants to put their own stamp on it.
The GB85 feels like a flagship that hasn’t lost sight of what makes these boats so liveable. Big, capable, and very clever in the detail - it’s Grand Banks at its very best.
Reasons to Buy
- Really easy boat to move around
- Carbon fibre build keeps weight right down
- Custom detailing
Things to Consider
- Bunk cabin small
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Rivals to Consider
The Outer Reef 900 is a true long-range cruiser, more expedition than express, with a semi-displacement hull that tops out around 24 knots and comfortably cruises up to 22 knots. Its range stretches to around 3,000nm at 8.5 knots, even up to 3,800 nm at a gentle 8 knots. With four cabins accommodating up to eight guests, it leans into generous volume and customization, with a classic trawler look and build quality that aims to mimic superyacht comfort. Like the GB85, it’s designed for serious miles, but where the Grand Banks has a livelier, more social layout - skylounge, open decks, friendly ergonomics - the Outer Reef feels more expedition focused, solid, timeless, and built for globe-trotting at ease.
The Sirena 78 Open brings modern flair. Frers naval architecture gives it a semi-displacement hull that’s agile, sleek, and efficient. Top speeds hover near 25–27 knots with twin MAN engines, while cruising at around 10–12 knots stretches range to about 1,500 nm. Four cabins host eight guests, and the flexible upper deck can be open, semi enclosed or fully enclosed - sometimes feeling like a smaller trideck. It’s smooth, modern, and stylish, great for owners who value form as much as function. But compared to the GB85’s teaky warmth and comfort-first touches, the Sirena feels more deliberate and design driven.
The Fleming 78 is a workhorse with poise. Its semi-displacement, trawler-derived boat that has a long-range mindset and exceptional comfort. With twin MAN power, it reaches over 20 knots and delivers around 2,000 nm at 10 knots. Standard layout provides three en suite staterooms plus crew quarters aft, hosting about six to seven guests with crew onboard. Its engineering is robust and thoughtful - sound-isolated machinery, generous pilothouse, and hefty build quality all speak to serious voyaging. Compared to the GB85, the Fleming is more traditional and functional in feel - less curves, more structure. The 85, by contrast, brings more social deck spaces and personal touches without compromising on range or comfort.
Considering a new yacht? Explore Grand Banks' entire current range to find the model that best suits your needs, and compare it with alternatives from competitors to ensure you make the perfect choice.
Specifications
- Builder Grand Banks
- Range Long Range Cruisers
- Model GB85 Skylounge
- Length Overall 26.58m
- Beam 6.75m
- Draft 1.28m
- Hull GRP
- Cabins 3
- Berths 4
- Crew 1
- Yacht Type (Primary) Trawler Yacht
- Use Type (Primary) Cruising
- Cruising Speed
- Max Speed
- Engine Model 2x Volvo Penta D13-IPS1350
- Engine economic speed 10 knots
- Engine max range (speed type) 1000 (nm)
Grand Banks GB85 Skylounge Layout
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Flybridge
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Main Deck
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![Main Deck Grand Banks GB85 Skylounge]()
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Optional day head
![Main Deck Grand Banks GB85 Skylounge]()
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Lower Deck
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Standard 3 cabin layout
![Lower Deck Grand Banks GB85 Skylounge]()
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Optional his and hers master en suite
![Lower Deck Grand Banks GB85 Skylounge]()
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Optional 4 cabin layout
![Lower Deck Grand Banks GB85 Skylounge]()
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