Grandezza completes the revamp of its sportscruiser range with an outboard-powered version of its celebrated 34. Alex Smith takes it for a test
Such is the trend toward outboard-powered sportscruisers that even the most traditional builder has either introduced, or is thinking of introducing, a line of boats that trades the inboard diesel for the outboard motor.
From the consumer’s point of view, there are of course plenty of arguments to sidestep that trend – not least, the compromising of the back end as a day boating zone, the hefty increase in fuel consumption and the shifting of the weight from a sensible spot beneath the deck to an imperfect one, up and aft, on the transom.
But there are plenty of potential benefits too – quieter, more refined cruising, less vibration at low revs, extra pace and performance, reduced maintenance costs and, from a builder’s point of view, a greater chance of success on the American market.
The foredeck is limited in terms of its recreational versatility
External decks
In the case of the Grandezza 34, the odds of mitigating the downsides of the transition from inboard to outboard are uncommonly strong. It has already introduced very effective outboard models on both the 30 and 37ft models so there’s both a bedrock of experience and a sense of inevitability behind the arrival of this new boat – and certainly, the styling is very strong.
The staggering of the tinted hull windows, and the dynamic drop-down shape of the wraparound screens as they run aft, blends very attractively with the black cowlings of those Mercury 300s. And the fact that the engines nestle between the swim platforms, so close to the superstructure, makes them feel very much like a central part of the designer’s plan rather than an aftermarket bolt-on.
A curtain at the helm restricts the otherwise excellent all-round views
As for the usability of the arrangement, that works pretty well too. The swim platforms are well sized and there’s an excellent storage cabinet at the transom with dedicated spots for your lines and fenders. But inevitably, as the outboard variant, it does lack the space for the lovely convertible aft-facing bench of the established inboard model, which straddles the zone between cockpit and swim platform to such lovely effect.
From here, three steps take you up to the raised symmetrical side decks and forward to the bow. A generous 10ft 7in beam makes that perfectly possible and, while the narrow decks avoid stealing too much of that breadth, the combination of roof rails and tall peripheral guardrails makes everything feel very secure.
The foredeck is quite simplistic, with just a narrow raised island sunbed bookended by fore-and-aft rails, but if the bow is fairly unremarkable, the saloon is much more engaging…
The huge port dinette hinges up to reveal vast reserves of storage
Sheltered saloon
The saloon is all about the lovely raised C-shaped dinette to starboard. It comes with a clever swivelling fold-out table and optional push-button telescopic leg so you can turn it into a huge aft sun bed.
The storage inside the bench seats is a little awkward to get to because you need to remove the cushions and then lift out the lids, but the space beneath the dinette, in the section vacated by the inboard engines, is outstanding.
The extension is neatly conceived
The entire back end of the dinette hinges up to reveal a massive cavity, cleanly lined with textured board, providing all the space you need for options like the generator, diesel heating and AC, while also providing the space for baggage, trays, canvases, infills and any other weekending gear you want to chuck down here.
In making the transition from inboard to outboard, so many boats fail to leverage the space beneath the deck but this is first class.
It’s very easy to erect the canvases around the back end to cordon off this section of the boat when the weather turns, but what also impresses in the saloon is the long port galley.
In spite of that big dinette, the broad beam means there’s plenty of space for a pair of fridges, a two-ring stove, a sink and a bit of work surface. But while the aft end of the galley has to be tapered to enable easy access from the port swim platform, the forward end features a very clever worktop extension. You simply hinge the co-pilot seat over and down, lift out the extra worktop panel from its vertical housing and slot it into place. And just like that, you get a full-length galley, as well as a class-leading dinette.
The proportions are as balanced as you will see from a compact outboard-powered cruiser
Four-berth accommodation
The use of space on the lower deck is also very considerate.
The owner’s bow cabin uses a two-part door to reduce the arc of travel and increase the space available for furniture. The bed then adopts a diagonal orientation to help free up plenty of space for a really generous settee on the starboard side.
There’s also lots of headroom in here, and lots of natural light too thanks to the big hull windows and pale woods. And in addition to some handy hanging storage to port, the elevation of the bed means extra storage drawers beneath that.
The guest cabin is accessed via its own door on the starboard side. It takes you into a very lofty entry point with changing seat and full-height cupboard beneath the raised moulding of the helm station.
A two-part door and diagonal bed make great use of the space in the owner’s cabin
The bed then runs transversely beneath the saloon deck with another raised section at the head end beneath the dinette. And the port heads also uses the space well.
While the footprint is not huge, headroom is great and the fact that the loo sits inside the enclosed shower compartment means there’s no sense of restriction in terms of the space around the vanity unit.
Classy cruising
The helm is a good place to be. You get big one-piece side screens, narrow mullions, a huge overhead sunroof and a raised platform so you can stand with your head up and out in the fresh air.
The guest double gets some lovely headroom beneath the helm
Visibility is therefore very strong but the position of the curtain, directly to the side of the backrest does get in the way much more than is necessary when you shuffle aft on the two-man bench seat with your back on the lumbar support, so we would be inclined to relocate that.
Even so, with a second (optional) 16in plotter, a well conceived bank of manual switchgear, a joystick, a proportional Sleipner bow thruster and a rear-view camera, it does a really practical job without shouting too loudly about it.
In spite of the weight shift incurred by those twin outboards, it’s a very good boat to drive too. There’s lots of poke, plenty of heel and grip in the turn, a healthy bit of composure and a much more impressive 46-knot top end than you might imagine.
The quality of construction adds to the sense of refinement and the optional Seakeeper Ride system also does an excellent job on this boat, keeping us effortlessly flat and level without any of the grabbing sensations it can engender on lighter, faster platforms. In fact the only quibble we have with the drive concerns the fuel tank.
The outboards mean plenty of extra pace and refinement, plus excellent storage beneath the deck
At 490L, it uses the same tank as the more efficient diesel model and the limited range of the new boat reflects that. A fuel flow of 4L per mile at 20 knots (and in excess of that at everything above 37 knots) means that, with 20% in reserve, your range at these speeds struggles to exceed 100 miles.
For cruisers keen to make a bit of distance without stopping to top up, 25 to 32 knots is undoubtedly a more generous cruising sweet spot. It sees the fuel flow drop to as little as 3.1 litres per mile for a cruising range of around 120 miles. But even so, given the space available beneath the decks of this boat, really keen cruisers might do well to request an increase in tankage.
Grandezza 34 OB specification
LOA: 33ft 4in (10.15m)
BEAM: 10ft 7in (3.23m)
DRAFT: 2ft 4in (0.70m)
DISPLACEMENT: 5,000kg (light)
FUEL CAPACITY: 490L
WATER CAPACITY: 120L
ENGINES: Twin Mercury V8 300hp outboards
Grandezza 34 OB costs and options
Price: from €239,800 ex VAT. Test boat includes the following options…
Electric cockpit table
Proportional bow thruster
Electric anchor windlass
Seakeeper Ride trim system
Bow cushions
Transom shower
Induction cooker
Shore power
Generator
Verdict
Grandezza builds its boats in-house across four facilities in Kokkola, Kalajoki, Rusko and Sammatti. That allows it to oversee most key stages of production internally and the quality of design and build reflects that. While there are of course elements of the conservative about it, this is a very classy and well put together boat. Traditionalists might still argue, with some justification, that the inboard model is the more convincing platform, but if you want a premium mid-range four-berth cruiser with outboard propulsion that looks great and drives a treat, this is undoubtedly a shortlist contender.
