This publicity photo of the Grady-White Freedom 225 dual console explains in a snap the versatility and utility of this all-purpose boat. Even Fido has a place to stand.

SnapShot of the Freedom 225--

Mission Statement

The Freedom 225 is designed to be a coastal utility boat that can be easily adapted to fishing, towing sports or just be a fun day boat for the whole family. By having an outboard bracket the builder maximizes space inside as well has to have a full-beam swim platform for watersports.



"A" 175 qt. (166 L) insulated fish box or cooler. "B" 22 gal. (83.6 L) storage compartment or optional livewell. "C" Lockable head compartment with storage nets. "D" Base for optional pedestal table. "E" Fold-away transom seat for two. Note rod storage in the port and starboard cockpit gunwales.

Distinguishing Features

Hydraulic Trim Tabs. They are standard and with indicator and retractor.

Large Swim Platform. Most outboard boats have a outboard well molded into the transom and two small swim platforms outboard of the engine. The 225 has one wide swim platform that makes it possible to easily traverse the back of the boat.

Superior Dealer Network. Grady-White assembled most of its dealers 30 years ago and they, and Grady-White have had a positive symbiotic relationship ever since. Most of these dealers are experts in boating, customer-friendly, and product savvy.

4 Factory Customer Service Reps. In these days of economic austerity in the building industry it is unusual even for relatively large volume boat builders to have five factory employees dedicated to answering the phone and helping customers.

C. Raymond Hunt & Associates, N.A. Years ago Grady-White hired the services of Ray Hunt & Associates to design the exclusive SeaV2 hull. Hunt & Associates is one of the most respected naval architectural firms in recreational boating and its roots go back to the design of the deep-V by founder Ray Hunt in the early 1960s.

Major Features

Freshwater Shower. A cockpit freshwater shower is standard.

2 Large Fish Boxes. These boxes are both insulated. A 175 quart one in the transom of the boat to port, and 52 quart one on the starboard side under the seat forward. Both can also be used for storage or as coolers with ice.

Equipped Head Compartment. The lockable head compartment has a portable toilet, dome light, storage nets, and a teak and holly sole all as standard equipment.

Lockable Helm Console Storage. In the helm console there is a dedicated place for tackle boxes as well as an other storage compartment with service light.

Self-Bailing Cockpit. There are two scuppers in the cockpit that drain any water that comes aboard overboard eliminating the risk of sinking during a heavy rain storm.



Dual consoles lend themselves well to having two fishermen, one in the bow and one in the stern -- or, three. The third being the helmsman awaiting his turn at bat.

Fold-Away Transom Seat. This cantilevered seat is held by tubing and can be folded away where fishing or the cockpit space is need for other watersports.

Options to Consider

Painted Hull. This is an attractive option and boaters who want a distinctive-looking Grady-White should talk to the dealer about this polyurethane option.

Deluxe II Seating. Both the helm seat and the companion seat can be this option which has a vertical adjustment as well as fore and aft. We recommend it. The Deluxe III helm chair is also available starboard as an option.

Ski Pylon. This is on the optional list because every owner uses his boat differently so Grady-White has not loaded this boat up with equipment that might not be used.

Bow Table. If the Freedom 225 is to be used for entertainment then we heartily urge the purchase of a bow table. The bow is a comfortable and fun spot to hang out for cocktails or lunch when at anchor.



The aluminum tower is optional.

Engines and Performance

We have not tested the Grady-White Freedom 225 so we have no independent verification of numbers below, nor can we give any insight into the handling and docking manners of the boat. Grady-White has had a long-standing marketing agreement with Yamaha as its sole supplier of outboard engines so it only rigs its boat for Yamaha engines.

On its website Grady-White gives performance numbers for the Freedom 225 powered by 4-stroke Yamaha 200-hp, 250-hp, and 300-hp engines. These performance numbers were gathered over the course of 2-1/5 years and the boats tested weighed almost exactly the same. Here is the WOT speed and best cruise for all three engines, all speeds are in miles per hour --



Based on what we have seen over the years there are no surprises in these numbers. Most people we know will choose to cruise at speeds higher than the optimum for fuel efficiency shown above if conditions permit. In the mid-30 mph range, the mileage appears to range from about 3.00 mpg for the 200-hp engine to 3.20 mpg for the 300-hp engine -- in other words not much different.



Two couples out for some day boating, probably the way many people will use this boat.

Which Engine Is Best? Obviously the 200-hp engine has to work hard and typically must be run at 500 rpms higher to equal about the same speed as its bigger brothers. These sort of tests are typically conducted with two people aboard, so boaters planning to have six or so aboard must realize that it will simply take more horsepower to travel in the mid-30s. There is no right answer as to the best engine of the three, as it depends on the application.

Observations

Regular readers know that we have long liked dual console boats built by companies specializing in fishing boats. Many people in saltwater locations prefer a dual console made by one of these builders rather than one made by a sportboat builder simply because they look more traditional and saltier. Certainly, that is Grady-White's market.