It was mid-April, just a few weeks post Cyclone Alfred, when I experienced the Grand G850 on the Gold Coast Broadwater under brewing grey skies. The beamy and supremely capable flagship of the Grand Boats range drew every eye at the boat ramp – and once she launched, I felt very secret service indeed.
“What do you call that?” said a curious fisho as Grand Boats Australia Managing Director Dan Arscott reversed the G850 into the shallows.
“Grand Boats, a G850 model. Pretty neat, hey?” was my response.
“How far you going out? Bet you could get to New Zealand on that,” he surmised. Well, maybe not quite that far, but as the wind picked up and the chop became more lively, the G850 showed no signs of intimidation.
Arscott and his new bride, Marketing Manager Carly, are the dynamic duo behind the revival of Grand Boats in Australia, with the full backing and support of the factory that’s located in Ukraine and owned by a family with diverse business interests throughout Europe.
Originally from the UK, Arscott brings a decade of experience representing Grand Boats and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of each model as well as its attributes.
The 2025 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) marked Grand Boats Australia’s official launch on the scene since the brand arrived Down Under in July 2024 – and was hectic and spirit-raising, according to Arscott.“ Our stand location at the entrance to the show was ideal,” he states. “We were thrilled with people’s impressions of the brand.
“From day one of the show,” he continues, “our team received overwhelmingly positive feedback on the design, layout and, most importantly, the quality of our boats, which really distinguishes our range in the market.“
We were especially pleased with the number of sales across all categories, including tenders, mid-size RIBs, and even our flagship G750 and G850 models. Sales included a mix of new customers to the brand and returning owners upgrading their models.”
Founded in 2001 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, by an experienced group of designers and engineers with considerable RIB expertise, Grand Boats now has a presence in 45 countries, supported by over 20 authorised regional distributors, each with their own dealer networks.
The model range spans the gamut of RIBs, from luxury yacht tenders to sports RIBs, recreational family boats and commercial vessels. There are 21 models in total over three series – the Golden Line, Silver Line and Drive Line – ranging from 2.75 metres to the flagship G850 at 8.5 metres.
My Grand Boats experience started at the brand’s Australian headquarters at Arundel, set within a light industrial zone and surrounded by workshops, warehouses, manufacturing plants and assorted marine businesses.
The showroom accommodates one of each current model, plus there’s room for more. Arscott says the aim is to import 200 boats a year – or one container a week – within the next five years.
In their year here so far, Grand Boats Australia has struck partnerships with Yamaha, Garmin for electronics, and Scanstrut for wiring systems.Built for family adventures on water, the G850 is the brand’s flagship and the largest of the Golden Line – the brand’s high-end range of recreational luxury RIB boats and premium yacht tenders – and it deserves the mantle.
An imposing sight on the trailer, fully kitted out and weighing 2.2 tonnes, it’s a compelling package as a standalone boat.
Setting off from the beach at Southport, the G850 immediately impressed with its user-friendly Hypalon tubes with grab rails that I used to swing aboard. A bow-mounted step plate is handy for passenger access at the dock.
The 2.95-metre beam creates category-leading floorspace, with durable SeaDek flooring underfoot. The centre-console design allows safe and easy movement around the vessel, which has room and amenities for up to 16 guests.
As we barrelled along the Broadwater, planing at 13 knots and topping 63 knots for an exhilarating burst on a windy and increasingly wild Broadwater, skipper Dan demonstrated the Garmin Auto Guidance feature that automatically calculates the route to a destination, taking into account depth and obstacles in the water.Despite the wind and the choppy conditions, there was minimal spray on us or the windscreen, thanks to the deep-V hull and its concave shape that rises to meet the shock-absorbing tubes and mitigate waves.
With fibreglass T-Top protection, we were unfazed by the sun, UV, wind and water – all the elements that converged on this test day. There’s also an optional canvas bimini suntop for the stern section for added comfort.
Having found a suitable spot to stop, we activated the StayPoint mode on the Yamaha Helm Master EX SetPoint system, part of a suite of boat control features that include DriftPoint and FishPoint functions.
StayPoint holds the position and heading of the boat. DriftPoint is designed to hold the heading of the boat and allow it to drift naturally with the wind and current. When the current or wind conditions are just too strong, StayPoint will let you know before deactivating and offering you a return option.
Meanwhile, FishPoint holds the boat’s position, rather than its heading, to maintain a stationary position using minimal rpms, facing into the current or the wind.
Yamaha’s full manoeuvrability joystick control system gives single-handed, fingertip joystick operation, integrating control of the throttle, shift and steering – ideal for families looking for safe and simple boating.
The sleek, uncluttered helm features two 12-inch Garmin display screens, two cupholders and a Scanstrut Rokk waterproof wireless charger for phones, as well as an ergonomic wheel. Behind the console is a Garmin 325i VHF. A Fusion marine stereo and eight speakers throughout the vessel supply the soundtrack to your day out.
The anchor locker contains an electronic windlass that makes anchoring a breeze, and the 10-kilogram Quick anchor that comes with 50 metres of chain.
Forward of the helm is a single seat fixed to the steering console that opens to reveal a marine toilet. The hatch opens to a large compartment with moulded stairs to an electric WC, with headroom suitable for all guests, from kids to plus-sized.
Behind the helm is the social heart of the G850, comprising a Vitrifrigo bar fridge with freezer compartment, sink and space for a barbecue or grill. Once the cover is down, it converts into a workspace or bench. A removable table and U-shaped seating for up to four people, with cavernous storage space underneath, add to the amenities.
Batteries and bilge pumps are located in a dedicated technical compartment. Further aft are the dual entry decks and engines – on this model, twin 200-horsepower steer-by-wire Yamaha engines. The G850 can take up to 400 horsepower, twin or single.
A telescopic boarding ladder is built into the deck portside, and a shower kit is installed in the stern along with the 300-litre fuel tank – enough for long days on the water. There’s also a ski arch and a fibreglass platform for mounting electronics.
It’s reassuring to know the G850’s exceptional seaworthiness has earned the model CE category B (Offshore) certification, meaning it’s capable of handling 40-knot winds and seas up to 4 metres. “The G850 is a superb all-rounder,” Arscott enthuses.
“For Grand Boats, the objective is to make boating as easy, safe and enjoyable as possible. At handover, we teach people everything they need to know to equip them for whatever activity they’re intent on – we want to be partners in their experience, and we want them to stay within the Grand Boats’ family.”
Review originally posted on Ocean Magazine. Written by Jeni Bone.