Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 boat specs
Grady-White
Grady-White Adventure 218 2024
2024
View full specs →
VS
Grady-White Express 305 2012 boat specs
Grady-White
Grady-White Express 305 2012
2012
View full specs →

Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 vs Grady-White Express 305 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 vs Grady-White Express 305 2012 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 700 hp, the Grady-White Express 305 2012 has a 450-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 Express 305 2012 carries 29 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 Express 305 2012 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 Express 305 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Grady-White Express 305 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 32,6 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 - DetailWith Pulpit: 32 ft. 7 in. (9.93 m) Center Line: 30 ft. 6 in. (9.30 m)
Length - Feet23.3
Length - Feet32.58
Length overall - Meters7.1
Length overall - Meters9.93
Length overall - Inches280
Length overall - Inches391
Beam8.60 ft
Beam10 ft. 7 in. (3.23 m)
Beam - Meters2.62
Beam - Meters3.23
Beam - Inches103
Beam - Inches127
Draft [max] - Detail1.60 ft
Draft [max] - DetailHull: 23 in. (0.58 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.49
Draft [max] - Meters0.58
Draft [max] - Inches19
Draft [max] - Inches23
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: 8,850 lbs. (4,014 kg)
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg4014.29
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.885
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail9 ft. 6 in. (2.90 m)
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Gal1
Fuel tank capacity - Gal29
Fuel tank capacity - Liters378.54
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1097.77
Engine makeYamaha
Engine makenot available
Engine modelFour-Stroke
Engine modelnot available
Horsepower250 hp
Horsepowernot available
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeoutboard
Drive typeOutboard - Twin
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail290 gal. (1,098 l)
Engine maxnot available
Engine max700 hp (522 kW)
Operational Info
Sleeping capacity2
Sleeping capacitynot available
Head1
Headnot available
Boat typePower
Boat typenot available
General Boat Info
Makenot available
MakeGrady-White
Modelnot available
ModelExpress 305
Model Yearnot available
Model Year2012
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typenot available
Hull typeModified Vee

Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 vs Grady-White Express 305 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 or the Grady-White Express 305 2012?
The Grady-White Express 305 2012 is the longer of the two at 32,6 feet overall. The Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 comes in at 23,3 feet, making it roughly 9,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Grady-White Express 305 2012 is rated to a maximum of 700 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 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 Adventure 218 2024 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Grady-White Express 305 2012 is certified for 9. 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 Express 305 2012 measures 127" wide, compared to 103" for the Grady-White Adventure 218 2024. 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 Adventure 218 2024 or the Grady-White Express 305 2012?
The Grady-White Express 305 2012 has the bigger tank at 29 gallons, versus 1 gallons on the Grady-White Adventure 218 2024. That 28-gallon difference translates to roughly 84–140 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 and Grady-White Express 305 2012 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Grady-White Adventure 218 2024 and the Grady-White Express 305 2012 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.