Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Grady-White Bimini 306 2007 vs Grady-White Freedom 285 2012: Same Brand, Different Boat
The Grady-White Bimini 306 2007 vs Grady-White Freedom 285 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 600 hp for the Grady-White Bimini 306 2007 and 600 hp for the Grady-White Freedom 285 2012. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Grady-White Bimini 306 2007 carries 306 gallons versus 218 gallons in the Grady-White Freedom 285 2012. 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 Bimini 306 2007 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Grady-White Freedom 285 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Grady-White Bimini 306 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Grady-White Bimini 306 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 9 passengers and at 30,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Grady-White Freedom 285 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeGrady-White
MakeGrady-White
ModelBimini 306
ModelFreedom 285
Model Year2007
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam10 ft. 7 in.
Beam9 ft. 6 in. (2.89 m)
Beam - Meters3.23
Beam - Meters2.9
Beam - Inches127
Beam - Inches114
Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 3 in. (with T-top 9 ft. 4 in.)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.84
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches112
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise19.5℃ with SeaV℃ hull (continuously variable vee)
Deadrisenot available
Draft [max] - Detail19 in.
Draft [max] - DetailHull: 20 in. (0.51 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.48
Draft [max] - Meters0.51
Draft [max] - Inches19
Draft [max] - Inches20
Weight - Detail6,500 lbs.
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg2948.35
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.6500
Weight - lbs.not available
Width [transom] - Detail9 ft. 6 in.
Width [transom] - Detail9 ft. (2.74 m)
Length - Feet30
Length - Feet28
Length - Inches6
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail30 ft. 6 in.
Length overall - Detail28 ft. (8.53 m)
Length overall - Meters9.3
Length overall - Meters8.53
Length overall - Inches366
Length overall - Inches336
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - DetailCockpit: 27 in. (0.69 m)
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Centimeters68.58
Depth - Inchesnot available
Depth - Inches27
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typenot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail306 gal.
Fuel tank capacity - Detail218 gal. (825 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1158.34
Fuel tank capacity - Liters825.22
Fuel tank capacity - Gal306
Fuel tank capacity - Gal218
Drive typeOutboard - Twin
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max600 hp
Engine max600 hp (448 kW)