Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Grady-White Fisherman 216 2022 vs Grady-White Freedom 285 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Grady-White Fisherman 216 2022 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 Fisherman 216 2022'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 8 gallons in the Grady-White Fisherman 216 2022. 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 Fisherman 216 2022 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 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 Fisherman 216 2022 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 - Detail28 ft. (8.53 m)
Length - Feet23.3
Length - Feet28
Length overall - Meters7.1
Length overall - Meters8.53
Length overall - Inches280
Length overall - Inches336
Beam8.60 ft
Beam9 ft. 6 in. (2.89 m)
Beam - Meters2.62
Beam - Meters2.9
Beam - Inches103
Beam - Inches114
Draft [max] - Detail1.60 ft
Draft [max] - DetailHull: 20 in. (0.51 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.49
Draft [max] - Meters0.51
Draft [max] - Inches19
Draft [max] - Inches2
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - DetailCockpit: 27 in. (0.69 m)
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Centimeters68.58
Depth - Inchesnot available
Depth - Inches27
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail9 ft. (2.74 m)
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Gal8
Fuel tank capacity - Gal218
Fuel tank capacity - Liters302.83
Fuel tank capacity - Liters825.22
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 - Detail218 gal. (825 l)
Engine maxnot available
Engine max600 hp (448 kW)
Operational Info
Boat typePower
Boat typenot available
General Boat Info
Makenot available
MakeGrady-White
Modelnot available
ModelFreedom 285
Model Yearnot available
Model Year2012
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typenot available
Hull typeModified Vee