Grady White Fisherman 257, the Twin-Engine 25 Explained

Grady White Fisherman 257, twin outboards on a towable beam

The Grady White Fisherman 257 solves a specific problem. Many offshore anglers want two engines for the run back from the canyon or the Gulf Stream edge, but they also want to keep the boat on a trailer or in a dry stack. At 8 feet 6 inches of beam, the 257 stays inside the standard towing width while carrying twin Yamaha outboards, a 135-gallon tank and a 400 hp rating. It is the largest boat in Grady-White's Fisherman series and the only one with twins.

Salt Water Sportsman's executive editor Chris Woodward summed it up in the magazine's 2022 buyer's guide: at 24 feet 9 inches, with twin outboards and plenty of fishing features, the 257 makes a solid offshore platform. In the 2019 edition, readers who owned offshore center consoles of any brand placed Grady-White first among builders they would consider when buying again.

From Advance 257 to Fisherman 257

This hull first appeared in Grady-White's 2009 catalog as the Advance 257, a 25-foot center console with 64 square feet of cockpit, a 27-inch cockpit depth and a 350 hp rating. One owner quoted in that catalog described landing a 192-pound thresher shark off Montauk and thanking the transom door for it. For the 2011 model year Grady-White reorganized its range: dual consoles became the Freedom series and center consoles up to 25 feet became the Fisherman series, so the Advance 257 became the Fisherman 257.

The numbers changed over time. The 2011 catalog lists 151 gallons of fuel and a weight of 4,045 pounds without engines. By the 2014 specification sheet the boat was rated for 400 hp with 135 gallons of fuel and 4,300 pounds of weight, the figures still quoted today. Later updates reworked the T-top with LED spreader lights and tricolor recessed lights, a full-height scratch-resistant windshield integrated into a painted aluminum frame and more stainless grab rails.

Why twins matter on a 25-footer, and what they cost

On a single-engine 23-footer, a fouled fuel filter 30 miles out means a tow. On the 257, it means a slower ride home. That redundancy, more than speed, is why the boat exists. Separate battery switches serve each engine, each Yamaha has its own flush fitting, and two automatic bilge pumps move a combined 2,600 gph.

The cost is real. Twins mean two sets of annual service, two lower units to inspect and repower bills that roughly double a single-engine boat's. Fuel burn at Grady-White's best cruise was 11.3 gph at 30 mph with twin F200s, against 9 to 10 gph for a single-engine 236 at a similar speed. Loaded test weight was 6,646 pounds before the trailer, so plan on a three-quarter-ton truck.

Twin F200 test data, rpm by rpm

Grady-White's published test from April 2015 used twin 2.8-liter Yamaha F200s with Reliance SDS props and a hardtop. The boat planed by 2,500 rpm, settled into its sweet spot between 3,500 and 4,000 rpm at 27.6 to 33.5 mph, and topped out at 52.5 mph at 6,000 rpm. Best economy was 2.73 mpg at 3,500 rpm, and the published optimum cruise of 30 mph at 3,700 rpm returned 2.66 mpg.

With 135 gallons and a 10 percent reserve, that cruise equates to about 320 statute miles, comfortably enough for a 50-mile run offshore, a day of trolling and the trip home. Even at 4,500 rpm and nearly 39 mph the boat still returns better than 2 mpg.

Cockpit and console details that serious anglers notice

Grady-White designed the 257 after listening to both offshore anglers and coastal families, and the fishing side is complete out of the box.

• 32-gallon aft livewell with light, full-column inlet and an 1,100 gph pump
• 185-quart insulated fish box aft plus two 120-quart boxes forward, the port one divided
• Thigh-high bolsters and toe rails all around the cockpit
• Four gunwale rod holders, four on the lean bar, four in the T-top and six horizontal rack slots
• Lean bar with footrest, backrest, split flip-up bolster, knife and plier holders and tackle trays
• Anchor windlass with bow roller and deck-level access to the bow
• Console with portable head, hanging locker, storage shelves and a composite cherry and holly sole
• Optional 18-foot crank outriggers, casting platform insert, bow table and a 65-quart Yeti under the lean bar

Where the 257 falls short

Narrow beam is both the selling point and the compromise. A 25-footer at 8 feet 6 inches will roll more at rest than a 9-foot 6-inch dual console or a Canyon 271, and the bow seating is comfortable for cruising but not a lounge. The head is a portable unit as standard, and there is no cabin. If you want to overnight or carry six adults offshore all day, the Marlin 300 or a Canyon will be kinder.

The 400 hp rating also caps you at twin 200s. That is plenty for 50 mph, but owners who want the punch of modern 300s will need a bigger hull.

Values from early Advance hulls to new boats

The 257's long run makes it one of the easier Gradys to shop because there is always inventory, from early Advance 257s to late-model Fisherman 257s with Helm Master EX joystick steering. Early boats are attractive if the engines have been repowered with modern four-strokes; otherwise, budget for that job. Boats from the 400 hp era onward are the safer buy because they match current parts and rigging.

Annual running costs for twin-engine ownership typically run $10,000 to $18,000 including two-engine service, insurance, storage and a normal season of fuel.