Grady-White 321 Coastal Explorer: Bigger Is Better

The Grady-White 321 CE is the model’s new flagship and one of the biggest – and most luxurious – hybrid bay boats you’ll see on the water today.

The 321 Coastal Explorer is rigged for inshore/offshore fishing or comfortably laid-back afternoons at the sandbar.

Hybrid bay boats have evolved into larger packages, but Grady-White goes even bigger than we’ve seen to date with the 321 CE. While some might say it stretches the definition of a hybrid bay boat, the design stays true to the class with huge casting platforms fore and aft, a full selection of angling armaments, and the performance to match. Like other Grady-Whites of this size, however, it also has a healthy dose of luxury. Big loungers, electric-actuated sunshades and “Sport Deck” swim platforms, and gobs of comfy seating including triple-wide helm seating with flip-up bolsters, are all in the mix.

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STANDOUT FEATURES

Extreme fishability mixed with lots of family boating features
Triple-wide seating at the helm
Luxury-boat-style side-opening swim platforms on either side

Despite the boat’s immensely brawny nature, it’s light on its feet. The pair of Yamaha F350s on the transom push the 321 CE to a top-end of 56.3 mph (according to Yamaha’s performance bulletin). At 4500 rpm the boat cruises at 40.9 mph. And if you cruise at a mellow 30 or so, fuel efficiency is eye-opening at 1.7 mpg.

Pull up to the beach, drop the anchor, and those Sport Deck side-opening swim platforms swing down at the press of a button. When you climb back aboard you can rinse off via the recessed cockpit freshwater shower or use the shower in the oversized stand-up head compartment in the console.

The aft-facing mezzanine seat is something seen on larger offshore boats but is far from the norm on a hybrid bay boat. When you decide to troll for pelagic species, it will make an excellent bait-watching seat. The seatback folds down to form a Corian countertop, there’s integrated tackle stowage, it’s equipped with drink holders and rod holders, and there’s even lighting in the bulk stowage area plus a handy USB outlet.

The transom is a great example of multifunction wizardry. With all the compartments closed and the cushions in place, it provides seating for four with room to spare. Pull the cushions and swing the backrests out, and you have an elevated casting platform. Or start opening hatches and you’ll discover a pair of 18-gallon livewells plus a bulk stowage compartment.

When comparing the 321 CE to other boats, it’s critical to consider what’s included as standard features versus those cost-adding options. Grady-White tends to load their boats with all the goodies as standards, and it certainly does so in this case: Grady lists around 70 standard features, while there are only about a dozen options including things like color choices and CE certification for European conformity.

Main Specs

Length	31’7”
Beam	10’6”
Draft	1’10”
Engine	2 x 350 hp
Fuel Capacity	220 gallons
Price	Starts at $462,425

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Published: January 2026

Author

Lenny Rudow

Contributing Editor, BoatUS Magazine

Our top electronics writer and an accomplished sports fisherman, Lenny has written seven books, won 52 awards from Boating Writers International – many for his first-rate marine electronics articles – and two for excellence from the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Angler in Chief at his own FishTalk publication, this passionate angler brings expertise in fishing trends, small boat handling, and DIY projects. His encouraging style is featured in many of BoatU.S.’s popular how-to videos.