Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 vs Grady-White Chesapeake 290 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 vs Grady-White Chesapeake 290 2009 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 600 hp, the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 2009 has a 350-hp advantage over the Grady-White Adventure 218 2024'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 Chesapeake 290 2009 carries 206 gallons versus 1 gallons in the Grady-White Adventure 218 2024. 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 Chesapeake 290 2009 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 29,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
Measurements / Dimensions
Length overall - Detail23.30 ft
Length overall - Detail29 ft. 9 in
Length - Feet23.3
Length - Feet29.75
Length overall - Meters7.1
Length overall - Meters9.07
Length overall - Inches280
Length overall - Inches357
Beam8.60 ft
Beam9 ft. 11 in. (3.02 m)
Beam - Meters2.62
Beam - Meters3.02
Beam - Inches103
Beam - Inches119
Draft [max] - Detail1.60 ft
Draft [max] - DetailHull: 23.5 in. (0.6 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.49
Draft [max] - Meters0.61
Draft [max] - Inches19
Draft [max] - Inches23.5
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - DetailWith Hardtop: 9 ft. 9 in. (2.97 m)
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.97
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches117
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - DetailCockpit: 28 in. (0.71 m)
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Centimeters71.12
Depth - Inchesnot available
Depth - Inches28
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - DetailWithout Engines: 7,650 lbs. (3,470 kg)
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg3469.98
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.765
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail9 ft. (2.74 m)
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Gal1
Fuel tank capacity - Gal206
Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54
Fuel tank capacity - Liters779.79
Engine makeYamaha
Engine makenot available
Engine modelFour-Stroke
Engine modelnot available
Horsepower250 hp
Horsepowernot available
Drive typeoutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail206 gal. (780 l)
Engine maxnot available
Engine max600 hp (448 kW)
Operational Info
Sleeping capacity2
Sleeping capacitynot available
Boat typePower
Boat typenot available
General Boat Info
Makenot available
MakeGrady-White
Modelnot available
ModelChesapeake 29
Model Yearnot available
Model Year2009
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typenot available
Hull typeModified Vee