Grand Banks GB54 Flybridge Review (2025 Edition) by Aquaholic

On Deck

The Grand Banks 54 looks every bit the classic trawler, but this is a very modern boat beneath the surface. Its planing hull, built with a high proportion of carbon fibre, delivers genuine performance while maintaining the weight and strength balance that Grand Banks has always been known for.

The traditional planking lines you see along the topsides are not real timber but molded detailing, giving the hull its distinctive heritage look without adding maintenance. The entire hull is spray-finished in Awlgrip, with colour choice open to the owner. The gleaming capping rails are also omposite rather than varnished wood, and they stay that way year after year. Even the transom, which looks like a beautifully varnished mahogany panel, is a composite structure designed to look traditional but remain completely weatherproof. 

At the stern, a generous bathing platform extends from the hull. Grand Banks measures this as a 54 by hull length alone, so in terms of overall footprint this boat would sit alongside most 60 footers. The aft cockpit carries a folding table and fitted seating, all shaded beneath a solid overhang with removable canopy panels that can enclose the space completely. Because this area is protected, the decking here is real teak, warm to the touch and beautifully finished.

Both side windows can drop down, opening the entire aft section into a single breezy outdoor lounge. Wide side decks, another Grand Banks hallmark, make movement around the boat secure and easy.

Up top, the flybridge is deep sided and neatly arranged. There is a second helm station with twin Stidd seats, twin Garmin displays, Volvo Penta instrumentation, and autopilot, plus a dining area around a handcrafted table with inlaid pale wood trim. A fridge and wet bar are built in, and there is storage for a tender aft with a crane mounted on the boat deck. Owners can alternatively carry the tender on the bathing platform and use the upper deck purely as a sun terrace.

Inside, the 54 has the warmth and character that define the brand. The combination of satin finished teak, teak and holly flooring, and large windows creates a light, comfortable atmosphere that feels traditional but not old-fashioned.

The saloon layout is balanced and open, with a folding dining table to port and a smaller lounge area to starboard arranged around a coffee table. Grab rails built into the ceiling underline the boat’s offshore pedigree.

This particular boat has the galley up configuration, which keeps cooking and social areas connected, but there is an alternative layout with a galley below. The galley is fully electric, fitted with a refrigerator, freezer, storage drawers, and a built-in wine cooler neatly hidden behind a teak door. The finish is exemplary, every edge, join, and hinge feels crafted rather than assembled.

The lower helm has the upright wheel that Grand Banks owners love, positioned beside a side door that gives immediate access to the deck. The helm seat can adjust between sit down and bolster positions. The layout is simple but well equipped, with Garmin displays for navigation and cameras, full engine instrumentation, thruster controls, autopilot, and communication systems. From here the visibility is excellent, and the design feels purposeful and calm, exactly what you would want for longer passages.

Owner's Cabin

The owner’s cabin occupies the bow and feels substantial in both volume and finish. The sweeping curves of the teak bulkheads and furniture create a warm, enveloping space, and there is ample storage throughout. Drawers sit under the bed, lockers run along both sides, and to port there is a large wardrobe that reaches down to the sole.

The ensuite bathroom is finished to the same standard, with a full-size shower, heated towel rail, and teak trim throughout. The fixtures are modern but the feel remains classic, and the solid construction gives a good sense of permanence.

Guest Accommodation

The guest accommodation comprises two cabins amidships. The port cabin is compact but practical, with a double berth that can also serve as a generous single. It incorporates laundry facilities and additional storage.

The starboard guest cabin is larger, with twin beds that can convert into a double by removing the bedside table and repositioning the berths. Headroom forward is excellent, dropping only slightly under the cockpit sole, and there are proper wardrobes, drawers, and shelving finished in the same warm teak.

An ensuite bathroom connects to this cabin, complete with a shower, heated towel rail, and Grand Banks’ trademark teak seat. It is smartly designed and as well finished as the rest of the interior.

Should an owner prefer a galley down configuration, the port cabin would be replaced by a lower galley, extending the main saloon above.

Access to the engine room is through the cockpit, leading past a watertight door into a machinery space that is impressively well finished. Even the floor is laid in teak. The structure and detailing give away the level of engineering that sits behind this boat.

Power comes from twin Volvo Penta D13 900s, upgraded from the standard D11 700s. With this setup the 54 is capable of more than 30 knots, which is remarkable given its classic profile. Cruising speed is around 21 knots, offering a range of roughly 460 nautical miles. Throttled back to displacement speeds, range extends beyond 1000 nautical miles.

The engines drive conventional shafts through gearboxes aft of the blocks, a traditional configuration that suits the boat’s character and weight distribution. IPS pod drives are available, but most owners choose the shaft setup for simplicity and reliability. With both bow and stern thrusters, low speed handling is still excellent.

The generator is centrally mounted, and key service points are accessible from either side. The fire suppression system, filters, and seacocks are all clearly marked, and floor sections can be removed for deeper maintenance work. It is the kind of engine room that invites inspection, a proper working space rather than an afterthought.

Grand Banks has spent decades perfecting boats that feel built for a lifetime, and the 54 is no exception. It’s engineered for owners who prefer to be hands-on and enjoy knowing every switch and seacock by name. 

The hull and deck structure are covered by a five-year warranty, and the factory will extend engine coverage to a matching term. If you’re buying through the Grand Banks Certified Pre-Owned programme, you also get a 12-month structural warranty and a full inspection signed off by the shipyard. It’s one of the most comprehensive warranties in this size and category, and the sort of coverage that gives long-term reassurance.

Deliveries are handled from the company’s own build facilities in Malaysia, supported by a network of Grand Banks dealers and service teams based in key markets including Europe, Australia, and the United States. That factory involvement continues right through commissioning, so when your boat arrives, it already feels well looked after. Owners can visit the yard during construction, which is a brilliant way to understand the systems before you ever cast off.

Once you’re running the boat, servicing is straightforward. Grand Banks has authorised centres worldwide that handle everything from annual maintenance to electronic upgrades and cosmetic work. The layout of the 54’s machinery space also helps; all major components are accessible, and many routine service points can be reached without pulling up a single floorboard. The company even designs its looms and piping runs so you can trace systems easily.

It’s worth saying that owning a Grand Banks isn’t just about the boat itself, but the network behind it. The brand has built a quiet but very loyal following, and that means access to owners’ groups, knowledgeable technicians, and a supply chain that actually works.  

If you’re comparing options, the Fleming 55 is a kindred spirit, built for serious passage-making with a semi-displacement hull, lower cruising speeds around 16 to 18 knots, and a reputation for incredible build quality. The other is the Greenline 58 Fly, which sits at the opposite end of the philosophy. It’s a hybrid-powered cruiser that can run silently at anchor on solar energy and switch between electric and diesel drive at sea. 

The Grand Banks 54 reinterprets one of yachting’s most recognisable profiles with modern materials and serious performance. It feels solid, understated, and timeless, yet the hull and drivetrain deliver the pace and efficiency expected of a contemporary cruiser.