Grady-White Offshore 240 and 280 Marlin
By Capt. Pete Barrett
In 1979 Eddie Smith launched the first Grady-White Offshore 24, a versatile walk-around boat that remained in production until 1991 and that spawned a family of vest-pocket sport fishing boats from this iconic boat builder, including the 280 Marlin, which many Grady-White devotees consider to be the best offshore boat ever built.
The small cabins combined with a clear enclosure provided welcome refuge from salty seas while cruising or trolling, and dry sleeping for overnight trips. Many were equipped with hard tops or marlin towers, and they became fixtures at northeast canyons in summer and early fall, and many more made weekend trips to Bimini and the Abacos in the Bahamas. The Offshore 24 and 280 Marlin were equally at home trolling or chunking for yellowfin at the edge of the continental shelf or taking the wife and kids fluke fishing on the inshore grounds.
Founded in 1958 by Glen Grady and Don White, the company originally built wood boats. In 1968 under Smith, the new owner, the change to fiberglass began in earnest along with new designs that shifted the company’s focus toward building fishing boats that would please the family and hard-core anglers. The Offshore 24 was preceded by the 204 Overnighter and the 254 Kingfish, two walk-around style boats that became the company’s trademark design, but the Offshore 24 had one of the company’s longest production runs and more than 5,000 were built, which is proud testimony to the boat’s inherent excellent design and popularity with customers.
The Offshore 24 was offered in four models that varied only in the way each was powered; the basic deck and cabin layout was virtually identical in each. The 240 was the first model and featured the standard outboard design with a cutaway transom followed by the 241 with a full transom and stern-drive power. The 242 also was a full transom made specifically for OMC’s Seadrive bracket-mounted outboards, followed by the 242G, also a bracket-mount design on a full transom but capable of mounting any brand of outboard power.
Many owners of the Offshore 24 wanted to move up to a larger boat and Grady-White gave them what they wanted in 1989, when the company splashed the 280 Marlin. It was immediately popular with Grady-White owners looking to advance in size to a larger, beamier boat with an improved ride offered by its Ray Hunt-designed hull. Famous for its sea kindly habits and a large, uncluttered cockpit, the 280 was just what the doctor ordered for blue-water fishing. It retained the classic Grady-White walk-around design and with added length and beam, the cabin amenities were dramatically improved.
A built-in live well, transom fish box and rigging station were standard, along with coaming pads, rod storage and tackle storage under the helm chairs. For offshore action, four anglers, including the captain, were kept comfortable working the tackle, boating the catch and rigging baits. For inshore work, up to six anglers could chum for bluefish or sharks, troll for striped bass or comfortably fish over reefs and wrecks. Space at the helm for electronics in the 280 Marlin is generous, and if a hard top was installed some electronics could be installed overhead, as well as swing-out outrigger bases.
Up forward, three berths, stand-up head with a shower, refrigerator, stove and microwave all added to family appeal for overnighting or weekending at the dock. The cabin retained the front windows, a Grady-White signature for their boats of this era, and allowed a lot of light into the cabin and added some visibility.
Another terrific improvement on the 280 Marlin was the so-called Euro-style transom with its built-in outboard mount, swim platform and stern protection for following seas. Drifting for sharks or chunking tuna in breezy, choppy seas never poses a problem with sea water coming over the transom; the Marlin is dry as a bone.
Outboard manufacturers in the 1990s were scrambling to add extra ponies to their power plants and the 280 Marlin took full advantage of this. A pair of 250-horsepower outboards would zip the Marlin along at 40 knots full throttle and comfortable cruise speeds of 30 knots were easily achieved because of the deep-vee hull design. The hull was rated for a total of 300 horsepower, which was an awesome package especially liked for king mackerel tournament fans who often needed to run long distances – and fast – to get to the best fishing grounds.
The 240 Offshore and 280 Marlin are still in demand today and because of Grady-White’s initial excellent construction and design, they are relatively easy to upgrade and customize. And require minimal re-building. Re-powering is the most popular upgrade, but many owners also add new electronics, towers or hardtops with rocket launchers along the back, more modern outriggers, refresh the cabin upholstery, and often finish off the package with custom paint jobs.
Grady-White continues to build walk-around style boats that trace their roots to the 240 Offshore and 280 Marlin, two Timeless Classics with trend-setting innovations, excellent design and high quality. The current fleet includes six models, including three that are perfect for blue-water fishing including the Journey 258, Chesapeake 290 and the latest Marlin, the awesome 300.
