Grady-White 281 CE 2022 boat specs
Grady-White
Grady-White 281 CE 2022
2022
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VS
Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 boat specs
Grady-White
Grady-White Tournament 225 2007
2007
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Grady-White 281 CE 2022 vs Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Grady-White 281 CE 2022 vs Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Grady-White 281 CE 2022 has a 50-hp advantage over the Grady-White Tournament 225 2007's 250-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 carries 96 gallons versus 16 gallons in the Grady-White 281 CE 2022. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Grady-White 281 CE 2022 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Grady-White 281 CE 2022 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Grady-White 281 CE 2022 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 27,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.
Measurements / Dimensions
Length overall - Detail27.70 ft
Length overall - Detail22 ft. 2 in
Length - Feet27.7
Length - Feet22
Length overall - Meters8.44
Length overall - Meters6.76
Length overall - Inches332
Length overall - Inches266
Beam9.40 ft
Beam8 ft
Beam - Meters2.87
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Inches113
Beam - Inches96
Draft [max] - Detail1.90 ft
Draft [max] - Detail16 in
Draft [max] - Meters0.58
Draft [max] - Meters0.41
Draft [max] - Inches23
Draft [max] - Inches16
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 6 in
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters1.68
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches66
Deadrisenot available
Deadrise20℃ with SeaV℃ hull (continuously variable vee)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail3,450 lbs
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg1564.89
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.345
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail7 ft. 11 in
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches2
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Gal16
Fuel tank capacity - Gal96
Fuel tank capacity - Liters605.67
Fuel tank capacity - Liters363.4
Engine makeYamaha
Engine makenot available
Engine modelFour-Stroke
Engine modelnot available
Horsepower300 hp
Horsepowernot available
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeoutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine 2 Engine MakeYamaha
Engine 2 Engine Makenot available
Engine 2 Engine ModelFour-Stroke
Engine 2 Engine Modelnot available
Engine 2 Horsepower300 hp
Engine 2 Horsepowernot available
Engine 2 Fuel TypeGas
Engine 2 Fuel Typenot available
Engine 2 Drive Typeoutboard
Engine 2 Drive Typenot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail96 gal
Engine maxnot available
Engine max250 hp
Operational Info
Head1
Headnot available
Boat typePower
Boat typenot available
General Boat Info
Makenot available
MakeGrady-White
Modelnot available
ModelTournament 225
Model Yearnot available
Model Year2007
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialFiberglass

Grady-White 281 CE 2022 vs Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Grady-White 281 CE 2022 or the Grady-White Tournament 225 2007?
The Grady-White 281 CE 2022 is the longer of the two at 27,7 feet overall. The Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 5,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Grady-White 281 CE 2022 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 tops out at 250 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Grady-White 281 CE 2022 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Grady-White 281 CE 2022 measures 113" wide, compared to 96" for the Grady-White Tournament 225 2007. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Grady-White 281 CE 2022 or the Grady-White Tournament 225 2007?
The Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 has the bigger tank at 96 gallons, versus 16 gallons on the Grady-White 281 CE 2022. That 80-gallon difference translates to roughly 240–400 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Grady-White 281 CE 2022 and Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Grady-White 281 CE 2022 and the Grady-White Tournament 225 2007 are built by Grady-White. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.