Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 vs Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 or the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013?

The Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 is the longer of the two at 59,0 feet overall. The Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 comes in at 42,0 feet, making it roughly 17,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 is rated to a maximum of 1 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 tops out at 108 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.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 is certified for 17. 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.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 or the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013?

The Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 has the bigger tank at 231 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977. That 225-gallon difference translates to roughly 675–1125 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 and Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 and the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 are built by Grand Banks. 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.

Boat Comparison

Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 vs Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013

Grand Banks

Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977

1977

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Grand Banks

Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 vs Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 vs Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 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 1 150 hp, the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 has a 1 042-hp advantage over the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977's 108-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 carries 231 gallons versus 6 gallons in the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977. 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 Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 59,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail42.00 ft

Length overall - Detail59.00 ft

Length - Feet42

Length - Feet59

Length overall - Meters12.8

Length overall - Meters17.98

Length overall - Inches504

Length overall - Inches708

Draft Min4.17 ft

Draft Minnot available

Beamnot available

Beam16.99 ft

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters5.18

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches204

Displacementnot available

Displacement95019.00 lbs

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal6

Fuel tank capacity - Gal231

Fuel tank capacity - Liters2271.25

Fuel tank capacity - Liters8744.3

Engine makeAmmarine

Engine makeCaterpillar

Horsepower108 hp

Horsepower1150 hp

Fuel typeDiesel

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeinboard

Engine 2 Engine Makenot available

Engine 2 Engine MakeCaterpillar

Engine 2 Horsepowernot available

Engine 2 Horsepower1150 hp

Engine 2 Drive Typenot available

Engine 2 Drive Typeinboard

Operational Info

Sleeping capacity2

Sleeping capacitynot available

Cabins2

Cabinsnot available

Head2

Headnot available

Water capacity3252

Water capacity195

Holding tank capacity - Gal9

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters3406.87

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Boat typePower

Performance

Maximum speednot available

Maximum speed10

Maximum speed measurenot available

Maximum speed measureknots

Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 vs Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 or the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013?

The Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 is the longer of the two at 59,0 feet overall. The Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 comes in at 42,0 feet, making it roughly 17,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 is rated to a maximum of 1 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 tops out at 108 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 Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 is certified for 17. 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 has the larger fuel tank — the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 or the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013?

The Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 has the bigger tank at 231 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977. That 225-gallon difference translates to roughly 675–1125 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 and Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 and the Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 are built by Grand Banks. 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.

← Grand Banks 42 Classic 1977 full specs ← Grand Banks Aleutian 59 2013 full specs