Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 boat specs
Grady-White
Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008
2008
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VS
Grady-White Express 330 2022 boat specs
Grady-White
Grady-White Express 330 2022
2022
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Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 vs Grady-White Express 330 2022 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 vs Grady-White Express 330 2022 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) 2008 has a 150-hp advantage over the Grady-White Express 330 2022's 450-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 330 2022 carries 331 gallons versus 206 gallons in the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008. 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 330 2022 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Grady-White Express 330 2022 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Grady-White Express 330 2022 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 33,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeGrady-White
Makenot available
ModelChesapeake 290 (2009)
Modelnot available
Model Year2008
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam9 ft. 11 in. (3.02 m)
Beam11.70 ft
Beam - Meters3.02
Beam - Meters3.57
Beam - Inches119
Beam - Inches140
Bridge clearance - DetailWith Hardtop: 9 ft. 9 in. (2.97 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.97
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches117
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Depth - DetailCockpit: 28 in. (0.71 m)
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - Centimeters71.12
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Inches28
Depth - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail7,650 lbs. (3,470 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg3469.98
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.765
Weight - lbs.not available
Width [transom] - Detail9 ft. (2.74 m)
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Length - Meters9.07
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet29
Length - Feet33.6
Length - Inches9
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail29 ft. 9 in
Length overall - Detail33.60 ft
Length overall - Meters9.07
Length overall - Meters10.24
Length overall - Inches357
Length overall - Inches403
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Detail2.50 ft
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.76
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Inches30
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail206 gal. (780 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters779.79
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1252.97
Fuel tank capacity - Gal206
Fuel tank capacity - Gal331
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typenot available
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeoutboard
Horsepower600 hp (448 kW)
Horsepower450 hp
Engine makenot available
Engine makeXTO Offshore
Engine 2 Engine Makenot available
Engine 2 Engine MakeXTO Offshore
Engine 2 Horsepowernot available
Engine 2 Horsepower450 hp
Engine 2 Drive Typenot available
Engine 2 Drive Typeoutboard
Operational Info
Sleeping capacitynot available
Sleeping capacity1
Cabinsnot available
Cabins1
Headnot available
Head1
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower

Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 vs Grady-White Express 330 2022 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 or the Grady-White Express 330 2022?
The Grady-White Express 330 2022 is the longer of the two at 33,6 feet overall. The Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 comes in at 29,0 feet, making it roughly 4,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 is rated to a maximum of 600 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Grady-White Express 330 2022 tops out at 450 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 Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Grady-White Express 330 2022 is certified for 10. 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 330 2022 measures 140" wide, compared to 119" for the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008. 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 Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 or the Grady-White Express 330 2022?
The Grady-White Express 330 2022 has the bigger tank at 331 gallons, versus 206 gallons on the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008. That 125-gallon difference translates to roughly 375–625 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 and Grady-White Express 330 2022 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Grady-White Chesapeake 290 (2009) 2008 and the Grady-White Express 330 2022 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.