Grady-White Boats for Sale

Where are Grady-White boats made?

Grady-White boats are made in Greenville, North Carolina, where they have been built since the company was founded in 1959. All manufacturing takes place at the Greenville factory, making Grady-White a proudly American-made brand.

Grady-White was founded by Glen Grady and Don White, who set out to build small, rugged boats with Carolina craftsmanship. Eddie Smith purchased the company in 1968 and has served as owner and CEO since, continuing to operate it as an independent, privately held business. So when shoppers ask who owns Grady-White, the answer is Eddie Smith — there is no large conglomerate or parent corporation behind the brand.

A Grady-White boat is a saltwater-focused recreational vessel, typically a center console, walkaround, or dual console design built for offshore and nearshore fishing as well as family cruising. The brand is known for quality construction and a long-standing commitment to building every boat at its single North Carolina facility, a consistency that has defined who makes Grady-White boats for more than six decades.

When did Grady-White stop using wood?

Grady-White completed its transition away from wood by approximately 2015, when every new model moved to all-fiberglass stringers and transoms with no wood in the main structure.

The shift happened in stages. In the late 1990s — around 1998 — Grady-White stopped using standard plywood and switched to Greenwood XL, a highly rot-resistant composite-wood material that reduced but did not eliminate wood content. That intermediate step addressed many of the moisture and rot concerns associated with traditional wood construction. The brand then began phasing wood out entirely on a model-by-model basis in the early 2010s, with 100% composite transoms arriving across the lineup between roughly 2012 and 2015 depending on the specific model.

So current Grady-White boats do not have wood in their structural components. If you are looking at a used boat built before 2012, it may still contain Greenwood or, on older models from the 1980s and early 1990s, conventional plywood — particularly in the transom. Boats from 1998 through the early 2010s occupy a middle ground with Greenwood stringers and transoms that are more durable than traditional wood but are not fully composite. Knowing the model year is the most reliable way to determine what materials a specific hull contains.

Is Grady-White a good boat?

Grady-White boats are widely regarded as among the best-built fiberglass fishing and cruising boats available, with a strong reputation for rough-water performance, durability, and long-term resale value. Owners consistently describe them as dry, comfortable, and confidence-inspiring in choppy offshore conditions — qualities tied directly to the company's SeaV2 hull design, which is engineered to soften the ride and shed spray in a chop.

Grady-White boats are not marketed as unsinkable in the technical sense, but their hull construction, fit and finish, and hardware quality give them a reputation for exceptional reliability and longevity. Many owners keep their Grady-Whites for decades, and used models hold their value well compared to competing brands — a reliable indicator of owner satisfaction.

For buyers weighing whether a Grady-White is a good boat, the main trade-off is price: they sell at a premium relative to many comparable center consoles and walkarounds. Most owners who have spent time on the water in rough conditions consider that premium justified by the ride quality, build standards, and low maintenance costs over time.

How much is a Grady-White boat?

Grady-White boats range from roughly $30,000–$50,000 for smaller used models up to well over $1,000,000 for large new flagship builds, so how much a Grady-White costs depends heavily on the model, size, and whether you're buying new or used. New boats start in the low-to-mid five figures for entry-level models like the Fisherman 216 and Freedom 235, while mid-size models such as the Canyon 306 or Freedom 275 typically fall between $250,000 and $500,000. At the top of the lineup, a new Grady-White Canyon 456 or Freedom 375 can push well past $600,000–$700,000 fully rigged, and large express cabin models like the Express 330 and Marlin 300 sit comfortably in the mid-to-upper six figures.

Many shoppers ask whether Grady-White boats are worth the money, and the premium pricing reflects the brand's American manufacturing in Greenville, North Carolina, hand-laid fiberglass construction, and a reputation for strong resale value. Grady-White boats are so expensive primarily because of the labor-intensive build process, high-quality hardware, and rigorous dealer support standards — factors that also help them hold value better than most competitors.

If budget is a concern, the used market offers a wide range, with older models available from around $13,000–$30,000, making a brand new Grady-White unnecessary for buyers who still want the quality and durability the brand is known for.

Can I afford a Grady-White boat?

Whether a Grady-White boat fits your budget comes down to the purchase price, your deposit, the loan term and the interest rate. MarineSource's boat loan calculator estimates the monthly payment for any price, so you can see at a glance whether a given Grady-White is affordable. Adjust the price, down payment and term to settle on a comfortable monthly payment, then browse Grady-White listings in that range. If you are trading in your current boat, use the trade-in calculator to estimate its value towards your deposit.