Grand Banks Yachts Limited – the company that pioneered the Downeast-styled yacht with the introduction of the venerable 38 Eastbay EX in 1995 – announces the arrival of the new Eastbay 44 (EB44), the next in a long line of luxury cruising yachts bearing the well-regarded Eastbay nameplate. The new EB44 combines an eye-pleasing blend of contemporary finishes and Downeast lines with an advanced hull design that is capable of safe and comfortable passages in open water. Its modified deep-V hull features a sharp entry for parting the waters ahead, an advanced planing surface aft, and wide reversed chines for added comfort and stability when manoeuvring. “The Eastbay 44 fully delivers the best of both worlds,” says Mark Richards, CEO of Grand Banks. “You’ll experience all the comfort and style you appreciate in a Downeast yacht, but with the legs and cruising speeds to take your adventures farther and faster. This latest generation of Eastbay is also lighter and more efficient.”
Eastbay yachts are known for their seaworthiness and cruising safety details. Elements include a deep, protective aft cockpit, wide side decks that are easy to navigate even with docklines in hand, an abundance of safety rails inboard and outboard, and a spacious foredeck for efficient anchoring. All essential cruising boat elements. Notable exterior features on the EB44 include a large swim platform, wide transom door for cockpit access, built-in cockpit seating for four, and cockpit storage for extended cruises. A day hatch in the cockpit sole allows quick checks of the engines prior to startup, but there is also a large section of the sole that hinges up for unencumbered access to the entire engine compartment.
The EB44 interior blends a variety of luxury materials, including golden, timeless teak, stone and leather, fit and finished with unparalleled craftsmanship, a Grand Banks trademark, to create a warm ambiance. The comfort and relaxation of family and friends is a key driver, with a focus on safety underway that is obvious in everything from rounded corners on cabinetry to an overhead teak grab rail. The builder has included electric side and aft windows that raise or lower, when conditions allow, for improved ventilation in conjunction with the large skylight hatches forward. An often overlooked feature on many of today’s cruising boats.
Grand Banks offers three interior accommodation plans, both of which include a spacious master stateroom and private ensuite head forward, and a utility room. A single guest stateroom to port is standard, with the option of a third stateroom to starboard for larger families. Large windows offer spectacular views all around for the helmsman and guests. A down-galley layout is also offered.
