1993 – 49′ Grand Banks Classic

Just lowered $40,000 – Time to go cruising!
The Elephant in the Room — Galley Down (and Why It Works)

Tortuga is our second Grand Banks 49. Our first had the traditional galley-up layout with the small third cabin, so we’ve lived with both configurations. Like many buyers, we initially saw galley-down as a compromise—until we cruised with it.

Yes, the galley-down layout gives up a side cabin. In exchange, it delivers a far more functional and safer galley, and transforms the salon into what it should be on a cruising boat: a true living room.

From real cruising experience, the galley-down proved to be a genuine advantage. It’s located in the most stable part of the boat, with everything in easy reach for the cook, making it entirely practical to prepare meals underway. The space feels secure, supported, and comfortable—especially when conditions aren’t flat calm.

Meanwhile, moving the galley down opens the salon dramatically. Instead of a mixed-use room, you get an open, relaxed space for reading, entertaining, and living aboard. For a two-couple cruising boat, we’ve found this layout to be ideal.

A Serious Cruising Platform

Tortuga is a safe, stout, stable Grand Banks, fully capable of taking you north to Alaska or British Columbia, or south toward Cabo. She is the only gyro-stabilized GB49 on the West Coast, and in actual use the gyro is transformative—providing a stable ride underway and even at anchor when needed, without the risks associated with fin stabilizers.

Navigation and situational awareness are first-rate. The Raymarine navigation suite includes large, modern displays with detailed charts, radar, and autopilot integration. A new 3-D depth sounder adds valuable confidence in tight passages and unfamiliar anchorages, while the conventional depth sounder remains in place for redundancy. A stern “backup” camera simplifies docking, and bow and stern thrusters remove much of the stress from close-quarters handling.

Ground tackle has been thoughtfully upgraded: a 55 kg Mantus anchor with proper swivels and 300 feet of chain on a heavy-duty horizontal Lofrans windlass, complete with chain counter and remote. A Bruce Claw secondary anchor with chain and rope rode is mounted and ready, and the anchor platform—an area known to need attention on GBs—has been replaced, reinforced, and properly reworked.

Systems That Have Been Thoughtfully Addressed

The engine room and onboard systems have been continuously upgraded, with attention paid to the known issues and long-term reliability. Steering was converted to hydraulic during the stabilizer and autopilot installation. A Hubbell isolation transformer protects against stray currents and galvanic damage while also conditioning poor shore power—something increasingly common in marinas.

Fuel systems were upgraded with tandem Racor filters on each engine, fuel fills were replaced and re-bedded, and tank tops properly reworked and protected. Extensive soundproofing in the engine room has resulted in noticeably quieter living spaces underway. Bilge pumps were replaced and upgraded with electronic sensor switches for improved reliability and reduced maintenance.

The props were replaced with CNC-machined bronze units, delivering excellent fuel efficiency; the original props are retained onboard as spares.

Equipment You Don’t Often See Included

Tortuga carries equipment rarely found together on a boat of this size:

• A high-capacity Honda semi-trash pump capable of serious dewatering

• A stern-deployed drogue for offshore following seas

• Multiple anchors, including an emergency Fortress

• A full offshore six-person life raft

• A Highfield aluminum RIB with four-stroke Yamaha and wheel steering

• A replaced davit winch and upgraded communications gear

In Summary

This is a Grand Banks 49 that has been actively cruised, thoughtfully upgraded, and carefully maintained. The known issues have been addressed deliberately over time, with no shortcuts taken in the name of safety, function, and reliability.

Tortuga is ready to take you where you want to go—safely, comfortably, and economically.

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