Last year marked the 60th Anniversary of Grady-White Boats, a company that is an icon in the sportfishing industry and has been a transformative influence on the design of saltwater fishing boats. With the introduction of the Canyon 326 center console the company has expanded its center console offerings to 10 models from 18 to 45 feet, bringing the total number of boats in their extensive lineup to 28. They all share two very important features: the quality of the design and construction and the highest JD Powers customer satisfaction ratings in their categories year after year.
Vice President of Marketing, Shelley Tubaugh, explained that, “Grady-White pioneered the idea of the luxury offshore sportfishing center console boat with the introduction of our Canyon line of boats. We found instant success with these larger center consoles that combined the hardcore fishability and performance of our SeaV2 hulls, with sleek lines, the family friendly amenities of plush, comfortable seating, well-appointed head compartments, versatile and strategically designed layouts, and the exceptional attention to every detail that Grady-White was already known for.”
The Canyon 326 is a prime example. Built on Grady’s proprietary SeaV2 hull—developed by the legendary C. Raymond Hunt design team—it blends the seakeeping attributes of a deep-vee with the fuel efficiency and performance of a modified-vee hull. Grady-White accomplished this by progressively varying the hull deadrise from 20 degrees at the transom to 30 amidships to an extremely sharp entry at the bow. The four strakes generate lift and a moderate chine knocks down spray.
The result is a hull that tracks straight, cuts a sea like a knife, has a soft entry and a dry ride. The Canyon 326 is rated for up to 700 horsepower in twin-engine configurations. With a pair of 300-hp Yamaha F300 outboards the Canyon 326 attains a top speed of 43.45 knots at 6,000 rpm and cruises at 26 knots while burning just 19.2 gallons per hour, according to Grady-White. That’s 1.6 miles per gallon—seriously good economy for a boat weighing in at 11,442 pounds with fuel and passengers.
The Canyon 326 is spacious and well-appointed. The helm is modern and smartly laid out beneath an oversized hardtop braced on beautifully executed white-powder-coated metal pipework. An acrylic wraparound windshield provides protection for the operator and two additional passengers on the three fully adjustable helm chairs. The boat we tested was equipped with Garmin electronics, including two 17-inch multifunction displays with the latest in sonar, radar and GPS/chartplotter functions alongside the Yamaha Command Link monitoring system and the optional Helm Master with Set Point joystick controls. The throttle system is fly-by-wire and works with the power hydraulic steering system.
The 10-foot, 9-inch beam provides plenty of cockpit fishing space with a 32-gallon live well in the transom and an optional 38-gallon version in the rigging station abaft of the helm seats. The station also includes a freshwater sink with cutting board, tackle stowage and an optional refrigerator. The cockpit has a transom tuna door and a diver door on the port side, both available with boarding ladders, and a 318-quart fish box. A fold-down transom seat makes for a comfortable ride to and from the fishing grounds.
The bow offers plush cushions for lounging and a pair of backrests that fold into the bolsters when not in use. Remove the cushions and you’ve got a huge forward area for fishing with two 180-quart compartments with overboard drains. The anchor windlass is accessed through the top hatch on the bow and a lower hatch opens to the anchor rode compartment. All compartments are waterproofed with gasketed hatches. The double-wide bench seat on the front of the console provides additional seating.
The head compartment in the console is beautifully finished with a counter, an electric flush toilet, freshwater sink, shower, storage cabinets and four vertical rod holders. There are 20 additional rod holders scattered about the boat; four in the hardtop, four on the rocket launcher, eight in the gunwales, three under the starboard gunwale.
The Canyon 326 is a center console for the angler who wants it all for their fishing enjoyment and his family’s waterside entertainment. It is yet another excellent addition to the Grady-White stable of well-designed, meticulously crafted boats.
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