Successful boatbuilding is all about getting the numbers right and Grady-White has theirs nailed.

The pride of North Carolina boatbuilding, Grady-White, was founded in 1959 and has been owned by the same family for the last 50 years. 40 years ago, it pioneered the Walk Around Cabin.

The Adventure 208 is the smallest of Grady-White’s Walk Around Cabin designs, although at 6.8m, with a trailerable weight of 1815kgs and a Yamaha 200hp four-stroke on its transom, it is certainly no lightweight. And that’s no bad thing, especially when battling large seas offshore.

Although some might think a sub-7m vessel is a little small to be heading offshore, it is what the Adventure 208 (and of course its three large stable mates) were designed to do. This is thanks largely to Grady-White’s renowned SeaV2 Progression hull.

The 208 combines that rough water capability with an almost jetboat-like ability to turn tightly, power out of the turns and quickly get up to speed. With a top speed of 33.8 knots, it is definitely no slouch. Able to cover the ground at 25.3 knots at 28 l/hr means there is a surprisingly economical sweet spot for cruising, too.

Being a Grady-White, there is also plenty to attract the serious angler. For example, a 94.6-litre plumbed live bait tank under the forward port cockpit seat and a 100.3-litre insulated fish bin under the matching seat to starboard.

The area under the 208’s optional hardtop more closely resembles that of a traditional cabin boat rather than that of a walkaround, especially when it is enclosed. The cabin, a comfortable spot to overnight is easily big enough for two.

For those after a GRP fishing boat, who want to be able to comfortably cruise well offshore at a reasonable clip, fish hard while they are there and not have to worry too much about getting safely home if the wind suddenly gets up, it seems the numbers certainly stack up.

For a full review on the Grady White Adventure 208 read Mike Rose’s report in the Nov-Dec of PPB 0n Sale Nov 6.