Grand Banks · Motor yacht

Grand Banks 42

The Grand Banks 42 is a semi-displacement trawler yacht designed by Ken Smith and built by Grand Banks Yachts (founded as American Marine in Hong Kong): in wood from 1965, in hand-laid fibreglass from hull 42-353 in June 1973 until 2005, in Singapore and from 1995 in Malaysia. The one hull carried three deck styles, the Classic with an aft owner’s cabin, the Europa (from 1979) with its saloon opening onto a covered cockpit, and the Motoryacht (from 1980) with a full-width master cabin aft under an aft deck; a longer, wider hull mould followed in 1991. Grand Banks counted more than 1,400 GB42s by 1999, wooden boats included, and they run single or twin Lehman, Caterpillar, Cummins, Volvo Penta or John Deere diesels, so the engines differ from boat to boat. Grand Banks has no GB42 owner’s manual online; this page covers the fibreglass boats and draws on the builder’s archived spec sheets, factory drawings, equipment lists and dealer bulletins.

Manuals & documents

The links go to Grand Banks’s own documents — some as archived copies of pages the maker has since taken down. We host no manuals or drawings.

Equipment & its manuals

Standard equipment as the builder’s documents list it. Boats were ordered with options and refitted since — check what is actually aboard.

ItemModelManual / pageNote
EngineLehman 120 hp · 135 hp1Early fibreglass boats: Lehman 120 hp, Lehman 135 hp from hull 42-877 (April 1984)Ford Lehman 120 Parts & service pageGrand Banks writes only ‘Lehman’ and gives no base-engine designation, so read the engine plate before ordering parts.
EngineCaterpillar 3208NA 210 hp · 3208TA 375 hp2,3,4,5Single or twin, documented 1991–2002: the 1991 running-gear drawing for the new Classic hull is drawn for the 3208, the October 2002 Motoryacht engine-room layout shows twin 3208TA 375 hp—The c. 1999–2001 table calls them ‘Caterpillar 210’ and ‘Caterpillar 375’ and also lists a twin Caterpillar 300 hp without model name; the 2002 pages name the 3208NA and 3208TA.
EngineSabre Lehman 135 hp · 225 hp × 22,6,7Power options c. 1999–2001 (CL, EU, MY), twin engines—
EngineCummins 210 hp · 250 hp · 300 hp × 22Power options c. 1999–2001; the table names no model—
EngineVolvo Penta TAMD 41B 200 hp · TAMD 61A 306 hp · TAMD 71A 357 hp × 22,6,7Power options c. 1999–2001 (CL, EU, MY), twin engines—
EngineDiesel 210 hp × 28,9,10,11,12Standard on CL, EU and MY in the model-year 2001, 2003 and 2004 lists, with reduction gears; the lists name no make—Grand Banks’ 2002–2004 performance sheets for the 210 hp package are for the Cummins 6BT5.9M with ZF IRM220PL gearboxes; the 1999–2002 pages also offer the Caterpillar 3208NA 210 hp. The 2001 Classic list prints ‘21 HP’, a typo for 210 hp. Racor fuel filter/water separators on the engines (2004 lists).
EngineCaterpillar 3126TA · 3126B13,10,4,9,14Options 2002–2004: twin 300, 350 or 420 hp, single 420 hp; Caterpillar dropped the 300 and 350 hp ratings in 2002 (Dealer Bulletin #244), the 3126B 420 hp continued—3126B 420 hp: Twin Disc MG5061A 2.47:1 gearbox, four-blade props 27.5 × 29.5 in; 3126TA 350 hp: same gearbox, props 28 × 26 in. The October 2002 Classic and Europa engine-room layouts and the 2003 Classic layout are drawn with twin 3126B 420 hp.
EngineCummins 6BT5.9M 210 hp · 6BTA5.9M3 315 hp · 6CTA8.3M3 430 hp × 210,15,16,3,9,17Options 2001–2004 (Grand Banks’ codes mod 220B, 330B and 450C); in 2003 the Motoryacht only with the 210 or 315 hpCummins 6BT / 6BTA 5.9 Parts & service page210 and 315 hp: ZF IRM220PL 2.478:1, four-blade props 26 × 24 or 26 × 24.5 in (210 hp) and 27 × 25 or 28 × 26 in (315 hp); 430 hp: ZF 280-1A 2.227:1, props 28 × 28 in. Some Grand Banks pages contain typos in these lines (‘66BTA5.9M3’, ‘220B 315 BHP’); an early 2002 page also lists a 355 hp version.
EngineJohn Deere 6068 TFM 225 hp × 218,19,10,16Options 2002–2004 (CL, EU, MY)—Classic: Twin Disc MG5061-A 2.47:1, four-blade props 27 × 25 in; Motoryacht: Twin Disc MG 5050 2.50:1, props 28 × 24.5 in.
EngineJohn Deere 6076 AFM 300 hp20,9,10,3Options 2002–2004, twin (single also listed)—Twin Disc MG5061-A 2.00:1, four-blade props 28 × 24 in (Europa) or 26 × 24 in (Classic). Some Grand Banks pages print ‘6075 TFM/AFM’.
GearboxZF IRM220PL · ZF 280-1A · Twin Disc MG5061A · Twin Disc MG 50504,9,19,20,10With the engine package, per the 2002–2004 performance sheets: ZF IRM220PL 2.478:1 with the Cummins 210 and 315 hp, ZF 280-1A 2.227:1 with the Cummins 430 hp, Twin Disc MG5061A 2.47:1 with the Caterpillar 3126 and the Deere 6068 in the Classic or 2.00:1 with the Deere 6076, Twin Disc MG 5050 2.50:1 with the Deere 6068 in the Motoryacht—Grand Banks names no gearbox for earlier boats; read the plate on the gearbox before ordering parts.
PropellerBronze · nickel-aluminium-bronze9,21,42001 list: bronze, four-blade on single-engine and three-blade on twin-engine boats; 2004 lists: four-blade nickel-aluminium-bronze, dynamically balanced—The performance sheets name CJR Propellers, Faster Propulsion System or Stone Marine, depending on the package. Shaft line on the 1991 drawing for the new Classic hull with Caterpillar engines (reference hull 42-1204): 2 in Aquamet 22 shafts, 213 in long; cutless bearings 2 in bore × 2⅝ in outside; 2 in FRP shaft-log tube with a 3½ in rubber stern-tube hose; bronze main and intermediate struts; 1½ in bronze rudder stocks. Other engine packages and the pre-1991 hull may differ.
GeneratorOnan · 8 kW · 9 kW22,8,9,11,17,23Standard on all three: 8 kW on the 1999–2001 pages; 9 kW at 60 Hz in the 2001–2004 lists, with 6.5 kW (Classic 2001), 7.5 kW (Europa and Motoryacht 2001–2003) or 7 kW (2004) at 50 Hz—Diesel set with sound shield. Grand Banks names Onan on the engine-room drawings (9 kW Classic 2002 and 2003, 7 kW Europa and Motoryacht October 2002) but not the model, so read the generator plate before ordering parts. From hull 42-1544 (HIN 2005) Onan sets came with e-QD digital controls.
WindlassLofrans Tigres1,11,22Standard from hull 42-1175 (August 1990): horizontal windlass for rope and chain, 12 V, controls at three stations, on a fibreglass double-roller anchor platformLofrans Tigres Parts & service pageGrand Banks names no make for earlier boats. Lofrans has built the Tigres for decades, so check the plate on the motor before ordering parts.
SteeringChain and cable · hydraulic1,9,24October 2002 booklet: mechanical chain-and-cable steering standard on the Classic and Motoryacht (hydraulic optional), hydraulic on the Europa; 2004 lists: hydraulic on all three—Teak wheels: type ‘F’ (29 in, stainless rim) on the flybridge, type ‘E’ (29 in, teak rim) in the saloon. Grand Banks names no make for the hydraulic system on the 42.
Trim tabs—92004 lists: standard with dual-station controls when the engines are larger than twin 210 hp; make not named—
InstrumentsVDO1,9Analogue engine gauges from hull 42-751 (April 1981), Stewart Warner before—
ToiletK-M (manual)4,5,9,23Manual marine toilets, K-M on the 1994 Classic and 1995 Motoryacht drawings; the equipment lists say only ‘toilet, marine’—Same drawings: SeaLand 300001 diverter valve and SeaLand 30120 ‘T12’ discharge pump at the holding tank; the 2003 Classic engine-room drawing shows a 50 US gal SeaLand holding tank. From hull 42-1544 (HIN 2005) one toilet discharges overboard through a Y-valve, each holding tank has its own pump and a macerator serves as back-up.
Bilge pumpRule 2000 · Rule 500 · manual pump4,5,91994 Classic and 1995 Motoryacht drawings: Rule 2000 (Model 10, 12 V) with Rule Model 39 float switch and Rule 500 (Model 25, 12 V) with Rule-A-Matic 35AF switch, plus a manual pump; 2004 lists: three automatic 12 V pumps and a manual pump—Each shower drains through a 12 V pump (2004 lists); the 2003 Classic layout shows a Whale Gulper on the shower sump.
Water pumpGroco Paragon Junior · Shurflo5,23,9Paragon Junior with accumulator tank and filter on the 1995 Motoryacht drawing; Groco Paragon pumps until HIN 2005, Shurflo pumps from hull 42-1544—12 V pressure-water system. Grand Banks names no Shurflo model.
Water heater11 US gal · 18 US gal · 20 US gal5,25,91995 Motoryacht drawing: 11 US gal, 240 V (‘S 1250’); October 2002 Motoryacht layout: 18 US gal; 2004 lists and 2002/2003 Classic layouts: 20 US gal, 120 or 220 V—Make not named. Grand Banks lists no diesel cabin heater for the 42.
Air conditioningReverse cycle (option)1,26,23Option on all versions; builder sizing in BTU/h: Classic 7000 forward, 16000 saloon, 12000 aft; Motoryacht 12000, 16000 and 12000; Europa 16000 forward and 16000 in the saloon—For the tropics Grand Banks recommends 24000 BTU/h in the saloon of the Classic and Motoryacht. Make not named; from hull 42-1544 with ‘Elite’ control panels.
FridgeNorcold · Coolmatic · Grunert (option)9,27,112 V DC or 12 V DC/120 V AC fridge-freezer on all versions; Norcold or Coolmatic on the Classic saloon drawings of the 2004 sales kit; Grunert holding-plate refrigeration as an option—Grand Banks on the Grunert holdover system: the freezer plates are pulled down to 0 °F and the fridge plate to 26 °F, so food against the fridge plate can freeze; the compressor runs about 1 to 1.5 hours to recharge the plates.
Stove—9,112001 lists: AC or LPG range with oven; 2004 lists: electric range/oven and a convection microwave; make not named—
BatteriesAGM · 8D · 2 × 4D · 2D25,9,21Model year 2004 (CL, EU, MY): AGM, one 8D engine-start, two 4D house and one 2D generator-start battery—2001: three heavy-duty batteries in fibreglass boxes; a 70 A alternator on each engine.
Charger12 V · 40 A · 50 A21,25Automatic charger with remote meter: 40 A (2001), 50 A (2004); make not named—

Specifications

VersionsClassic (CL): owner’s cabin aft, guest cabin forward, two heads; in fibreglass from hull 42-353 (June 1973) · Europa (EU): saloon moved aft and opening onto a covered cockpit, two cabins forward; from hull 42-606 (January 1979), re-introduced on the new hull about 1996 · Motoryacht (MY): full-width master cabin aft under an aft deck, two cabins forward; from hull 42-723 (November 1980) · Sports Cruiser from hull 42-636 (June 1979) · new, longer and wider hull: Classic from hull 42-1204 (April 1991), Motoryacht from 42-1220 (August 1991) · Grand Banks’ later documents call them 42 Heritage CL, EU and MY1,28,23
Years builtFibreglass boats from hull 42-353 (June 1973) to 2005 · Grand Banks’ current history page gives 42 CL 1975–2005, 42 EU 1979–2005 and 42 Motor Yacht 1987–2005, which does not match its own older hull records (fibreglass from 1973, Europa from January 1979, Motoryacht from November 1980) · wooden GB42s from 1965, not covered here1,29,22
Hulls builtMore than 1400 GB42s launched by 1999, wooden boats included (Grand Banks); hull 42-1544 was the first boat at the HIN-2005 prices (Dealer Bulletin #258, December 2003); no final hull number published22,30
DesignerKen Smith (original design)31,3
BuilderGrand Banks Yachts, founded as American Marine in Hong Kong; fibreglass GB42s built in Singapore from hull 42-353 (1973), in Malaysia after production moved there in 199532,1
HullHand-laid solid fibreglass with epoxy barrier coat and teak decks; FRP-and-foam structural grid in the 2004 lists · semi-displacement hull: fine entry, deep forefoot, hard chines aft and a full keel that protects the running gear · new mould in 1991 with a longer waterline and slightly more beam · wooden hulls before hull 42-353 (1973)9,22,3,1
Length overall13.17 m (43’3″) hull; 14.45 m (47’5″) including bow pulpit and swim platform11,24,12
Waterline length12.53 m (41’1″)11,24,12
Beam4.29 m (14’1″)11,24,12
Draft1.27 m (4’2″)11,24,12
Air draftClassic: 6.86 m (22’6″) from the waterline to the top of the mast; 3.99 m (13’1″) to the top of the flybridge windshield, 3.72 m (12’2½″) without it; mast and boom are hinged11,9
Air draftEuropa: 6.94 m (22’9″) from the waterline to the top of the mast; 4.33 m (14’2½″) to the top of the flybridge windshield, 4.00 m (13’1½″) without it24
Air draftMotoryacht: 7.77 m (25’6″) from the waterline to the top of the mast; 4.17 m (13’8″) to the top of the flybridge windshield, 3.8 m (12’5½″) without it12
Displacement15422 kg (34000 lb) at half load on the September 2000 sheets of all three versions; 15870 kg (35000 lb) on the Europa pages of 1999–2002 and the Motoryacht pages of 1996–200211,33,34
Fuel tank2270 l (600 US gal) in two baffled tanks of 300 US gal, port and starboard (black iron in the 2001 lists, mild steel in 2004), with sight gauges and self-closing valves11,9
Water tankClassic 1003 l (265 US gal) · Europa 1003 l (265 US gal; the 1999–2002 web pages gave 900 l / 260 US gal) · Motoryacht 910 l (240 US gal; earlier pages 900 l / 260 US gal)11,24,12,25,33
Holding tankClassic 50 US gal · Europa 28 US gal · Motoryacht 28 US gal (dealer booklet, October 2002); the 1995 Motoryacht plumbing drawing shows a 30 US gal tank1,5
Engine optionsSingle or twin diesels · early boats: Lehman 120 hp, Lehman 135 hp from hull 42-877 (April 1984) · options c. 1999–2001: single Caterpillar 210 or 375 hp; twin Sabre Lehman 135 or 225 hp, Caterpillar 210, 300 or 375 hp, Cummins 210, 250 or 300 hp, Volvo Penta TAMD 41B 200 hp, TAMD 61A 306 hp or TAMD 71A 357 hp · standard in the model-year 2001, 2003 and 2004 lists: twin 210 hp diesels · options 2002–2004: twin Caterpillar 3126B 420 hp (3126TA 300 and 350 hp until 2002), Cummins 6BT5.9M 210 hp, 6BTA5.9M3 315 hp and 6CTA8.3M3 430 hp, John Deere 6068 TFM 225 hp and 6076 AFM 300 hp; in 2003 the Motoryacht only with the Cummins 210 or 315 hp or the Deere 225 hp · fuel per engine in the c. 1999–2001 table (engine makers’ data): twin Lehman 135 3.1 US gal/h at 9.2 kn (2000 rpm), 6.6 US gal/h at 12.2 kn (2600 rpm); twin Caterpillar 210 4.1 US gal/h at 10 kn (2000 rpm), 11.4 US gal/h at 15.7 kn (2800 rpm); twin Cummins 210 11.2 US gal/h at 15.8 kn (2600 rpm); twin Volvo Penta TAMD 71A 19.5 US gal/h at 19.1 kn (2500 rpm); twin Caterpillar 375 21 US gal/h at 21.5 kn (2800 rpm)1,2,6,7,8,9,15,10,16,13,14
DriveShaft drive, single or twin engine: stainless shafts (Aqualoy in the 2004 lists) in bronze struts with rubber cutless bearings, dripless shaft seals in 2004, bronze or nickel-aluminium-bronze propellers; the full keel protects the running gear9,11,22
Cruising speedHull speed 9 kn; ‘9 kn typical, 14 kn possible with optional engines’ (1996); up to 17 kn with larger engines (1999); 8.5–17 kn (2002 flyers)22,28,26,27
Maximum speedAbout 12 kn with a single 375 hp engine, up to 20 kn with twin engines (1999 overview); the c. 1999–2001 power-options table reaches 21.5 kn with twin Caterpillar 375 hp at 2800 rpm and 12.2 kn with twin Lehman 135 hp at 2600 rpm22,2
CabinsClassic 2, each with its own head and shower · Europa 2, both forward, one large head with stall shower (two-head layout optional) · Motoryacht 3: full-width master aft with its own head, V-berth cabin forward and a double to port sharing a head; 2 in the galley-down version31,33,34
BerthsClassic: aft a double and a single berth as standard, a queen-size island berth in other layouts; V-berths or an island berth forward · Europa: owner’s island berth or V-berths forward, guest cabin with a double or two singles · Motoryacht: queen berth aft, V-berths forward, double to port31,3,33,34
HeadroomSaloon at the forward bulkhead: Classic 78½″, Europa 82¾″, Motoryacht 79″1
CE categoryNo design category stated; CE certificate for boats delivered to Europe from hull 42-1366 (Classic, June 1997), 42-1367 (Motoryacht, July 1997) and 42-1378 (Europa, September 1997)1

Good to know

  • Date a GB42 by its hull number, the four digits after ‘GNDD’ in the HIN (then come a month letter, the last digit of the build year and, from 1986, the model year; GNDD0500D3… is hull 500, built in April 1983). Markers in Grand Banks’ change log: fibreglass from 353 (1973), VDO gauges from 751 (1981), Lehman 135 instead of 120 hp from 877 (1984), transom shower from 1019 (1987), Lofrans Tigres windlass from 1175 (1990), new longer and wider hull from 1204 (Classic) and 1220 (Motoryacht) in 1991, CE certificate for European boats from 1366 (1997), Grohe Eurostyle mixers from 1518 (2002), HIN-2005 equipment from 1544.1,14,23
  • Changing cutless bearings: the shaft line has three, pressed into a brass sleeve and secured by a set screw at each end of the shaft-log tube. Grand Banks’ procedure: pull the shaft and the stuffing box with its hose, remove both set screws, soak the joints between sleeve and bearings with penetrating oil overnight, then use an extractor; the middle bearing may need a longer rod.1
  • Classic and Motoryacht boats with mechanical steering have a cable between the steering drum behind the saloon console and the flybridge. To fit a new flybridge cable, Grand Banks says: switch off the power, centre the rudders, slacken the nuts on the ‘A’ mount in the flybridge console, wrap two turns on the flybridge drum and three on the saloon drum, then tension at the ‘A’ mount until the steering unit sits level. Check the cable at every survey.1
  • All three versions reach the engine room through a hatch and ladder in the saloon, and Grand Banks laid it out with working room around the engines and with fuel filters and batteries placed for regular checks. On the Europa the large lazarette is a second way in that keeps oil out of the saloon; owners use it for a freezer, a washer-dryer or a dive compressor.9,22,33
  • Boats from hull 42-1544 (HIN 2005, announced in December 2003 and March 2004) came with a fixed engine-room fire-suppression system with engine shut-down, a safety seacock per engine, spare shaft seals, Onan e-QD generator controls, Shurflo pumps instead of Groco Paragon, one toilet with direct overboard discharge through a Y-valve, ‘Elite’ air-conditioning panels and stainless handrails (teak optional). For parts on a late boat, check which side of hull 1544 it is on.23,30
  • Grand Banks has no GB42 owner’s manual online. For spec sheets and service questions use the contact form on grandbanks.com (topics ‘Service & Maintenance’, ‘Warranty’ and ‘Spec Sheet Request’), where you can also register your boat; the factory drawings and specifications are in the archived ‘Retired Models’ downloads listed above.35,36

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Sources

  1. web.archive.org/web/20040421053617/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/portside/bulletins/Dealer…
  2. web.archive.org/web/20001109012300/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/models/42clopteng.html
  3. web.archive.org/web/20020204222444/http://grandbanks.com:80/models/gb42cl.html
  4. web.archive.org/web/20130207165538/http://www.grandbanks.com/images/discovery/ownership/r…
  5. web.archive.org/web/20130207165655/http://www.grandbanks.com/images/discovery/ownership/r…
  6. web.archive.org/web/19991110074025/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/models/42euopteng.html
  7. web.archive.org/web/19991009061313/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/models/42myopteng.html
  8. web.archive.org/web/20030629160033/http://grandbanks.com:80/images/yachts/pdfs/GB42EU_SEL…
  9. web.archive.org/web/20040219234353/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/portside/saleskits/GB42CL…
  10. web.archive.org/web/20030619142024/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/yachts/grandBanks/gb_42_e…
  11. web.archive.org/web/20130207165606/http://www.grandbanks.com/images/discovery/ownership/r…
  12. web.archive.org/web/20130207165714/http://www.grandbanks.com/images/discovery/ownership/r…
  13. web.archive.org/web/20020808131343/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/yachts/grandBanks/gb_42_c…
  14. web.archive.org/web/20040324203605/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/portside/bulletins/gb240_…
  15. web.archive.org/web/20030607165016/http://grandbanks.com:80/yachts/grandBanks/gb_42_class…
  16. web.archive.org/web/20030626185353/http://grandbanks.com:80/yachts/grandBanks/gb_42_motor…
  17. web.archive.org/web/20130207165622/http://www.grandbanks.com/images/discovery/ownership/r…
  18. web.archive.org/web/20030613210816/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/yachts/engines/GB42CL%20J…
  19. web.archive.org/web/20030701094208/http://grandbanks.com:80/yachts/engines/GB42MY%20JD606…
  20. web.archive.org/web/20030629155059/http://grandbanks.com:80/yachts/engines/GB42EU%20JD607…
  21. web.archive.org/web/20010104145200/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/models/42clsel.html
  22. web.archive.org/web/19990904001137/http://grandbanks.com:80/models/gb42toc.html
  23. web.archive.org/web/20040325074237/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/portside/bulletins/gb260_…
  24. web.archive.org/web/20130207165639/http://www.grandbanks.com/images/discovery/ownership/r…
  25. web.archive.org/web/20040324202915/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/portside/saleskits/gb42my…
  26. web.archive.org/web/20030307233920/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/images/yachts/pdfs/GB42EU…
  27. web.archive.org/web/20030626052714/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/images/yachts/pdfs/GB42MY…
  28. web.archive.org/web/19961105094704/http://grandbanks.com:80/s42_index.html
  29. grandbanks.com/a-grand-history
  30. web.archive.org/web/20031228165512/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/portside/bulletins/gb258_…
  31. web.archive.org/web/19990903232113/http://grandbanks.com:80/models/gb42cl.html
  32. grandbanks.com/about
  33. web.archive.org/web/19991010070006/http://www.grandbanks.com:80/models/gb42eu.html
  34. web.archive.org/web/19961105095126/http://grandbanks.com:80/s42my_index.html
  35. grandbanks.com/service
  36. web.archive.org/web/20120621015848/http://www.grandbanks.com/discovery/ownership/retiredm…

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