Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Grady-White Freedom 285 2012 vs Grady-White Marlin 300 2022: Same Brand, Different Boat
The Grady-White Freedom 285 2012 vs Grady-White Marlin 300 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 Freedom 285 2012 has a 250-hp advantage over the Grady-White Marlin 300 2022's 350-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 Marlin 300 2022 carries 282 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 Marlin 300 2022 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 Marlin 300 2022 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Grady-White Marlin 300 2022 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 9 passengers and at 30,6 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
Makenot available
ModelFreedom 285
Modelnot available
Model Year2012
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam9 ft. 6 in. (2.89 m)
Beam10.70 ft
Beam - Meters2.9
Beam - Meters3.26
Beam - Inches114
Beam - Inches128
Depth - DetailCockpit: 27 in. (0.69 m)
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - Centimeters68.58
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Inches27
Depth - Inchesnot available
Draft [max] - DetailHull: 20 in. (0.51 m)
Draft [max] - Detail2.30 ft
Draft [max] - Meters0.51
Draft [max] - Meters0.7
Draft [max] - Inches20
Draft [max] - Inches28
Width [transom] - Detail9 ft. (2.74 m)
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Length - Feet28
Length - Feet30.6
Length overall - Detail28 ft. (8.53 m)
Length overall - Detail30.60 ft
Length overall - Meters8.53
Length overall - Meters9.33
Length overall - Inches336
Length overall - Inches367
Draft Minnot available
Draft Min1.92 ft
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail218 gal. (825 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters825.22
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1067.49
Fuel tank capacity - Gal218
Fuel tank capacity - Gal282
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeoutboard
Engine max600 hp (448 kW)
Engine maxnot available
Engine makenot available
Engine makeYamaha
Engine modelnot available
Engine modelFour-Stroke
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower350 hp
Engine 2 Engine Makenot available
Engine 2 Engine MakeYamaha
Engine 2 Engine Modelnot available
Engine 2 Engine ModelFour-Stroke
Engine 2 Horsepowernot available
Engine 2 Horsepower350 hp
Engine 2 Fuel Typenot available
Engine 2 Fuel TypeGas
Engine 2 Drive Typenot available
Engine 2 Drive Typeoutboard
Operational Info
Sleeping capacitynot available
Sleeping capacity4
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower