Grand Banks GB85 Skylounge Review (2022 Edition) by NautiStyles

On Deck

The Grand Banks 85 has a massive swim platform finished in beautiful teak. It feels like it stretches a good 2m or about 7ft deep. This platform is a transformer tender lift with cradles that allow you to launch and retrieve the tender. Once the tender is in the water, the lift becomes your swim ladder. It’s a space you’d really use all the time, especially out on the islands with your water toys splashed and ready to go. There’s a giant umbrella overhead for shade, which is a recurring theme on this boat and something you’d definitely appreciate.

Right on the swim platform is a quick connect shower - that’s the one everyone’s adding to their wish lists – and the passerelle is nicely hidden, but ready when you need it for Med-style docking. It's a long passerelle, which it needs to be to clear this big swim platform.

Moving forward, shore power inlets are conveniently placed. Capstans and line storage are integrated and keep the deck looking really clean. The bow is finished in a steel grey with a bronze accent stripe that pops in profile. The foredeck is large, with plenty of flexibility. You can have small cushions or outfit it as a giant sun pad. It’s already set up to take another giant umbrella if you want to carry the shade forward. There are multiple hatches here, and the owner chose to skip teak in this area. The standard finish is low-maintenance, but teak is an option if preferred.

Forward, the bow features two well-organized hatches for anchor locker access, fender storage that’s surprisingly deep, and a very large ultra anchor. The windlass is easy to reach, an emergency winch handle, and the whole space is well laid out. You can hang lines here, everything's practical and easy to use, and even the interior of the storage compartments is lined in teak – they didn’t miss any detail.

The cockpit is another standout space with a deep overhang that makes the boat feel tall and gives great protection. There’s a big social area here with comfortable seating for at least 10 people. The Grand Banks logo is beautifully hatched into the teak table. The entertainment bar is properly outfitted with a sink, soft-closing drawers, and drink fridges with lovely finishes. The galley window drops down to create a service bar to the cockpit – a really cool, social setup. The entrance to the crew quarters is tucked on the port side, keeping things practical and flowing nicely.

The sky lounge opens out to another big entertainment zone. There’s a second sink, trash storage, an ice maker, twin drink fridges, and space for stemware. An electric grill and a griddle are tucked in here too. The high-low table in the seating area can be lowered to create a perfect cocktail or napping spot. You can cover it to make a larger lounge area, or leave space for a dance floor – there’s still room for loose furniture. The rail extensions here are cleverly integrated and super light – looks like carbon fibre and folds away neatly.

The interior of the Grand Banks 85 is striking. The main saloon is tall and open, with panoramic windows and excellent headroom – it’s seriously spacious. The seating is oversized and comfortable, with soft overhead panels that probably absorb sound beautifully. A pop-up TV tucks away when not in use, and storage throughout is all soft-closing. Since it’s a semi-custom yacht, owners have flexibility to tailor this space to their tastes. The standout detail is the teak wood throughout, finished with a Japanese stain – a rich, warm tone that really carries through the boat.

Moving forward, there’s a dedicated wine cooler – very important – and plenty of carefully organized storage for dishware and stemware outside the galley, which frees up the galley for provisioning and food storage. The galley itself is galley-style, properly laid out with Liebherr fridge and freezer, oven, four-burner induction cooktop, microwave, hood vent, and good storage throughout. The trash bin, dishwasher, extra freezer, and deep drawers make this galley seriously usable. A clever touch is the gaming station – or really, a docking station – built right into the galley space, with joystick controls, bow thruster, windshield wiper controls, and a Garmin plotter. You can adjust course or dock right from here while making a sandwich – super practical.

The sky lounge is a fantastic space with an enormous openable sunroof and drop-down windows to both starboard and aft. The full aft sliding door gives it a real inside-outside feel. Some owners might still opt for a traditional flybridge, but this sky lounge with opening roof really gives you the best of both worlds. The helm is well appointed with triple Garmin screens, a Volvo IPS joystick, bow thruster, FLIR camera controls, AV controls, and full switch panels for navigation and lighting. There’s even a dedicated control for the yacht’s audio zones right at the helm. The helm seating is large enough for three, and there’s excellent side access for docking.

The sky lounge also hosts an interior bar with a second dishwasher – a brilliant addition – and lots of storage. The pop-up TV in this area is huge, and the seating space is generous. The sky lounge is perfect for both hot and rainy days when you want to close everything up and crank the AC. It’s the best of both worlds.

Out aft, the entertainment area continues with more cold storage, an ice maker, additional sink, and a dedicated electric grill and griddle. The hi-lo table and flexible lounging setup make this space a total blank slate – great for lounging, dancing, or outdoor dining. 

Owner's Cabin

The owner’s stateroom is loaded with storage. There are large hanging lockers on both sides, drawers everywhere including under the bed, and even a built-in piano with folding pedals - a special request from the owner. The master is not full-beam in this case because of these bespoke choices, but there’s still loads of room and thoughtful details like a big tilting TV and a privacy glass panel between the en suite and the bedroom that switches at the touch of a button.

The en suite has dual sinks, excellent storage, and a two-person rain shower with an extractor fan. There’s also an electric head and a heated towel rail. Indirect lighting and that stunning teak continue here, giving the space a beautifully warm, high-end feel.

Guest Accommodation

The starboard guest cabin features a double bed with drawers underneath, a hanging locker, and en suite. The same high-quality teak runs through this space, and indirect lighting adds warmth. There’s a hatch overhead for natural light and ventilation, and the heated towel rail in the en suite is a nice touch.

The VIP cabin forward is super beamy, with a low queen bed, excellent headroom, and symmetrical storage on both sides. The en suite is finished in the same rich teak, and the hatch overhead brings in lots of light. There’s even a vanity seat in here, and the acoustic treatment makes the room feel cosy and quiet.

A compact grandkids cabin with twin bunks sits between the guest and master cabins - a cute overflow space with a good-sized window and a thoughtful addition for family cruising.

Crew Accommodation

The crew quarters are properly finished and feel like an extension of the guest spaces - no skimping here. Entry is from the cockpit. There’s a full-size washer and dryer, a folding area, and a utility closet with space for a Dyson, an ironing board, and extra gear. The crew cabins - both with full-size beds - are comfortable and offer loads of storage. The shared head is beautifully finished, with the same quality as the guest cabins and a good-sized shower.

The crew mess is spacious with seating, refrigeration, and a mini galley. There’s no stove, but one could be added easily. The crew have their own chart plotter repeater and VHF radio for monitoring yacht systems.

V-Warp construction is a signature feature here – it’s in the DNA of the GB Marine Group. The V-Warp combines hull design, construction techniques, and extensive carbon fibre use to keep weight low and efficiency high. The result is impressive: a range of 1,000 nautical miles at 20 knots burning 216 litres per hour. Drop the speed to 10 knots, and you get a remarkable 3,000 nautical miles. It’s uber-efficient compared to competitors and well-timed considering fuel prices.

The engine room is jaw-dropping – not just for its size, but for the finish. The teak continues here, even on the step-overs. There's so much space that you could easily store motorcycles or stand-up paddleboards. The starboard engine room houses the passerelle, which trims headroom a little, but the port side offers even more space. Access to both sides of the Volvo IPS 1350 engines is excellent thanks to cleverly placed hatches with gas shocks.

All systems are nicely laid out: Raycor fuel filters, hydraulic packs, thru-hull fittings, sound shielding, and sea fire suppression systems. The underwater lights are visible from inside the engine room – a neat little detail. Twin Fisher Panda generators power the house systems, and there’s a repeater for the chart plotter and tank monitoring right in the crew area.

The forward service area is meticulously organized with Victron energy systems, battery banks with super easy access, bow thruster batteries, air conditioning pumps, and the water maker with mounted controls. Even this area is finished in teak. 

Ownership of the Grand Banks GB85 Skylounge brings with it a set of running costs shaped by a few key factors. Berthing fees, fuel burn, insurance, scheduled servicing, annual maintenance, and potential crew salaries will all make up a significant part of the picture. The GB85’s efficient Volvo IPS 1350 engines and carbon fibre construction help keep fuel and handling costs in check, especially when you stack it up against similarly sized yachts. Grand Banks has also done a great job planning out the technical spaces, with easy service access that can help keep maintenance cycles more predictable and straightforward.

For owners planning to cruise extensively, berth in premium marinas, or run with professional crew, it’s worth expecting those annual costs to rise accordingly. As a rough guide, you’re typically looking at annual running costs somewhere in the ballpark of 5%-10 of the yacht’s purchase price, but this can swing either way depending on how the yacht is specified, where she’s based, how often she’s used, and the service choices an owner makes along the way.

The Grand Banks 85 world premiere at the Palm Beach International Boat Show 2022 is a seriously hot yacht with real cruising chops, clever spaces, and an uber-practical layout that feels custom-built for adventurous owners. If you’re in the market for something beautifully crafted, impressively efficient, and flexible enough to work with or without crew, the Grand Banks 85 definitely deserves a closer look.