Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Grady-White Escape 209 2008 vs Grady-White Freedom 285 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Grady-White Escape 209 2008 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 600 hp, the Grady-White Freedom 285 2012 has a 350-hp advantage over the Grady-White Escape 209 2008'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 Freedom 285 2012 carries 218 gallons versus 82 gallons in the Grady-White Escape 209 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 Freedom 285 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Grady-White Escape 209 2008 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 Freedom 285 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Grady-White Freedom 285 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Grady-White Escape 209 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeGrady-White
MakeGrady-White
ModelEscape 209
ModelFreedom 285
Model Year2008
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 1 in
Beam9 ft. 6 in. (2.89 m)
Beam - Meters2.46
Beam - Meters2.9
Beam - Inches97
Beam - Inches114
Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 9 in. T-top: 7 ft. 8 in
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.34
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches92
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Depth - DetailCockpit: 25 in
Depth - DetailCockpit: 27 in. (0.69 m)
Depth - Centimeters63.5
Depth - Centimeters68.58
Depth - Inches25
Depth - Inches27
Draft [max] - Detail15 in
Draft [max] - DetailHull: 20 in. (0.51 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.38
Draft [max] - Meters0.51
Draft [max] - Inches15
Draft [max] - Inches2
Weight - Detail2,600 lbs
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg1179.34
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.26
Weight - lbs.not available
Width [transom] - Detail7 ft. 10 in
Width [transom] - Detail9 ft. (2.74 m)
Length - Feet2
Length - Feet28
Length - Inches4
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail20 ft. 4 in
Length overall - Detail28 ft. (8.53 m)
Length overall - Meters6.2
Length overall - Meters8.53
Length overall - Inches244
Length overall - Inches336
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typenot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail82 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail218 gal. (825 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters310.4
Fuel tank capacity - Liters825.22
Fuel tank capacity - Gal82
Fuel tank capacity - Gal218
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max250 hp
Engine max600 hp (448 kW)