Seventy years is a milestone few boatbuilders ever reach, and fewer still can claim they spent those decades genuinely shaping their segment. Grand Banks Yachts is one of the exceptions. The company is marking seven decades of continuous influence with a global anniversary celebration running from March through to the end of 2026, a programme that officially kicks off on 25 March at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, where owners and admirers will gather to launch a year of commemorative events, editorial storytelling, and community gatherings that trace the brand's arc from its 1956 origins to its present-day position at the forefront of long-range performance cruising.
The roots of that story reach back to Hong Kong, where the company was established as American Marine Ltd. in 1956, built on a shipwright's straightforward commitment to honest, capable workmanship. The moment that truly defined the company's place in history came eight years later, when the Grand Banks 36 was launched in 1964. That single design effectively created the production trawler category, establishing a template for passagemaking yachts that would influence the wider industry for generations.
What followed across subsequent decades was a series of well-timed innovations, each one expanding the boundaries of what owners could expect from a serious long-range cruiser. The Alaskan raised pilothouse series arrived in 1968. The shift from timber to fibreglass construction was embraced ahead of many competitors. Then in 1993 came the Eastbay line, a range that helped define the modern Down East performance cruiser and proved the company could reinvent itself without losing the trust it had spent decades earning.
Mark Richards, CEO and Chief Designer of Grand Banks, took the helm in 2014 bringing with him the perspective of a world-champion sailor and shipwright. Rather than simply maintaining the brand's reputation, he set about reimagining what long-range cruising yachts could genuinely achieve in a contemporary context, applying fresh thinking to efficiency, performance, and range. The centrepiece of that transformation was the Grand Banks 60, introduced in 2017, which also marked the debut of the company's V-WARP Technology®. This design and construction philosophy delivers efficiency, performance, and range without asking owners to trade speed against fuel consumption. Yachts built around V-WARP Technology® can achieve up to 65% greater fuel efficiency than comparable vessels in their class, while remaining fully capable of long-range cruising at speed. The current portfolio spans sixteen models across the Grand Banks and Eastbay ranges, every one reflecting that same underlying commitment to purposeful, innovative design.
Richards is characteristically direct about what the anniversary means to him. "People who know me well know I'm not someone who spends much time looking in the rearview mirror," he said. "But when you reach a milestone like this, it's worth pausing to recognize the pioneers, craftsmen, designers, and owners who built something truly special. Grand Banks didn't just build boats, it helped define what long-range cruising could be. The responsibility we carry today is to honor that spirit of innovation while continuing to push forward."
That forward-facing instinct runs through his broader view of the company's character. "Grand Banks has never been about standing still," he added. "From the beginning, this was a company willing to rethink what was possible. Our founders embraced new ideas, new materials, and better ways of building boats. That mindset continues to guide everything we do today."
The seven-month anniversary programme is structured around several distinct initiatives. The Palm Beach International Boat Show on 25 March provides the official launch point. A commemorative edition of the Grand Banks in-house magazine will explore the brand's history, its landmark innovations, and the designs that defined each era. Owner gatherings are planned across the United States, Australia, and Europe, bringing together the global Grand Banks community. A curated programme of digital and editorial content will run alongside these events, spotlighting historic milestones, influential designs, and the individuals who shaped the brand across all seven decades.
The celebration is not purely a retrospective exercise. The company has made plain that this milestone looks forward just as deliberately as it looks back.
Grand Banks is currently developing the Grand Banks 70. The forthcoming model will carry forward the proven efficiency and performance characteristics the brand is known for, while introducing refined design, expanded owner customisation options, and capabilities aimed at advancing long-range cruising at speed into its next chapter.
Grand Banks Yachts produces a world-class portfolio of highly customisable, fuel-efficient motor yachts from its state-of-the-art factory, with sales and service operations across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Grand Banks is a subsidiary of Grand Banks Yachts Ltd. (GBY:SP), listed on the Singapore Exchange.
