When Grady-White introduced its first 21-foot walkaround cuddy, the Hatteras Overnighter 204C, some 50 years ago, the boat was a huge hit. The Adventure 218 is a top-to-bottom redesign of the same compact walkaround concept that the builder made famous.
The new model is unmistakably Grady-White, from the broken sheer line to the trademark accent lines on the hull. But the new 21-footer is more spacious, versatile and better-performing than its predecessors.
The Adventure 218 has an 8-foot, 6-inch beam, and is the widest 21-foot boat in its class according to vice president of marketing Shelley Tubaugh. That gives the boat a roomier cabin and a more spacious helm and cockpit.
The beam is carried well forward, which allows for a larger entry to the cabin, where there is a cushioned berth with stowage underneath and a head offset to starboard. Side windows and an overhead hatch provide natural light and ventilation. It’s a nice spot to take cover from the elements or get some rest.
The cockpit has plenty of room for fishing and entertaining. There is ample rod storage, knee-high coaming bolsters and functional toe rails that make fishing safer. Two (100 quart and 106 quart) fishboxes will come in handy for icing your catch, and one can be plumbed as a raw-water live well.
Two innovative transom seats have back supports that swivel out to provide access to the swim platform. A freshwater shower is in the center of the transom, along with a pair of combination cup/rod holders. Additional stowage is under the transom seats, and drop-in boxes can be removed to access the bilge, pumps and through-hull valves. The helm seats swivel 180 degrees to face aft for fishing or entertaining.
The Adventure 218 rides Grady-White’s proprietary SeaV² hull. It has a 19-degree deadrise at the transom, but the V shape sharpens moving forward, which gives the boat a softer ride in a head sea while reducing roll at slow speeds or at rest. The boat is offered with two Yamaha engine packages, and the optional F250 provides a 45-mph top speed and an optimal cruise of 29.7 mph burning 10.8 gph. Drop the cruise to 25 mph, and fuel consumption dips to 7.9 gph, or about 3.18 mpg.
With the Adventure 218, Grady-White has reinvented one of the boats that was instrumental in building its reputation. If a small cabin boat for a wide range of fun on the water is in your future, this one might just fill the bill.
Specifications
LOA: 23’3”
Beam: 8’6”
Draft: 16”
Fuel: 100 gallons
Weight (w/o engines): 3,650 pounds
Maximum power: 250 hp
