When you see sharks in the ocean, they're usually swimming along with little effort, that is, until they spot their prey. Then they turn on a burst of speed and display an impressive abi-lity to maneuver and anticipate a fleeing fish's every move. The new Grady-White Advance 257 might come in a refined package that looks civilized, but at heart it is a ruthless predator that will give anglers a decidedly unfair advantage.

Grady-White has studied the movements of anglers like factory owners scrutinize the motion efficiency of their workers, and has developed a cockpit that affords fishermen maximum productivity with a minimum of effort. Successful saltwater fishing, like predation, is a matter of maximizing opportunities that present themselves. For example, you might start off fishing for dolphin using Kona-style trolling lures and spot a feeding school of tuna. Bam, you shift gears by reeling in and switching rigs, which isn't a problem on the Advance 257, because with the ability to store six fishing rods under the gunwales, four behind the leaning post, four on the gunwale and four more if you opt for the T-top, you can bring along enough rods to handle any situation.

Changing lures is as easy as turning around and opening the lockable tackle station that is built into the leaning post. With four trays and bulk storage, not only can you bring along a large selection of lures, but there is also bulk storage for spare line and extra spools. Those up front don't have to go far to reload either with another convenient built-in two-tray tackle box set into the casting platform. Another nice touch is the pair of knife/pliers holders behind the leaning post.

When you get into the fish, Grady-White helps keep the action going with a 32-gallon livewell built into the faux-transom. It keeps even large concentrations of bait lively thanks to the full-column distribution inlet. The lighted livewell has a lid with a ram to keep it open, and when the fishing is done, the water drains overboard. When you gaff a fish destined for the table, you can make short work of it by opening the elevated 185-quart fish box that resides next to the livewell. It's insulated to conserve ice and features a cutting board on top for bait prep or cleaning the catch. If you manage to fill that one (hey, save a few for next time) there is a pair of 120-quart divided boxes in the bow that drain overboard, and also provide extra dry storage when not holding fish. The standard raw-water washdown makes cockpit cleanups a breeze.
The 65-square-foot fishing

cockpit rates high for angler safety with toe rails to hook your feet under when fishing in rough seas or leaning over to land a fish. Cockpit depth starts at 27 inches and grows deeper as you go farther forward. The transom door isn't a piece of Starboard like you see on a lot of boats, but instead, the thick door closes with the authority of a submarine hatch. Just beyond the door is the integrated swim platform that has a three-step stainless-steel ladder for re-boarding.

Settling into the helm station, you achieve the same comfort level as kicking your feet up on the La-Z-Boy at home. The stainless-steel tilt steering wheel and throttles are positioned perfectly, and the console is sized correctly for maximum use, but without looking like a refrigerator. The four Yamaha gauges are positioned high on the dash for easy reading, and a row of accessory rocker switches sits in a single file just above the wheel where they can be accessed easily, but not where they are prone to accidental activation. A clear, lockable electronics box cover keeps fishfinders and GPSs out of the weather but still allows them to be easily readable. Even loaded with electronics, there is still plenty of room leftover for storing the usual stuff anglers bring along, like cell phones, wallets, and the Bullfrog 30. Inside the console, there is almost enough headroom for a six-footer to stand at attention, and when equipped with one of the optional potties, makes a roomy head compartment. There is adequate ventilation, and for convenience there is a storage shelf and hanging locker.

The leaning post features firm foam and stout upholstery, and for additional comfort, there is a backrest. In the stern is one of the best foldable benches in the market. It can be deployed with one finger, and since it isn't supported by legs, it isn't prone to accidental fold-ups. The cockpit bolster acts as a backrest and is angled for comfort. One minor nitpick is that the seat in front of the center console has a backrest that is too upright for comfort.

Powering the 24-foot-9-inch Advance is a pair of new Yamaha F150 4-strokes ' the first ever on the market. Weighing just 466 pounds, they actually weigh less than Yamaha's 150 HPDI direct-injected 2-stroke. Instead of a V6, the F150 is an inline four-cylinder engine, as evidenced by the ultra-slim cowling. At idle, the pair registers only 60 decibels, which is extremely quiet for twins. Advancing the throttles, the Grady-White accelerates briskly to plane in less than four seconds and continues to 30 mph in 8.5 seconds, where it measures 86 decibels ' quiet enough to carry on a conversation without yelling. The F150s display good mid-range acceleration, and jamming the throttles to the stops quickly moves the 257 to a top speed of 47.4 mph with three passengers and 100 gallons of fuel in the 151-gallon tank. Although the twin F150s are a perfect match, an owner can save some money by opting for a single engine ' like the new 300-hp Yamaha HPDI ' without sacrificing too much performance. With a single Yamaha HPDI 250 and a full tank of fuel, com-pany test drivers got close to 41 mph.

One of the things you can always count on from Grady-White is a boat that is easy to drive and requires about a five-minute learning curve. The 3,500-pound hull feels substantial without being ponderous. The Advance 257, like other Gradys, features the SeaV2 hull, a modified deep-V that features an ultra-sharp 56-degree entry and gradually flattens out to 20-degrees at the stern. What this means is that where the hull meets the waves, it slices like a samurai sword, but when operating at trolling speeds or at anchor, the relatively flat deadrise at the stern keeps it from waddling side-to-side. Trim it down and you can thrash it into a turn as hard as you want without cavitating, and even at high-speed running trim it corners crisply. Although the seas are only one foot on test day, the SeaV2 hull is a proven design that is a dry hull and handles the rough stuff comfortably and safely.

The Grady-White Advance 257 comes loaded with standard features like the freshwater transom shower fed by a 20-gallon tank, compass, recessed bowrails, hydraulic trim tabs, cockpit bolsters, and hydraulic tilt steering. With the addition of a few options, like a T-top with rod holders, CD stereo, and 15-foot Radial Top Gun outriggers, you have a complete package.

List price with a single Yamaha HPDI 250 direct-injected 2-stroke is $67,490, and while not inexpensive, you get a well-thought-out fishing machine with superior fit and finish that is not only fun to drive and seaworthy, but darn good looking to boot. In 2001, Grady-White center consoles received J.D. Powers and Associates' Highest Customer Satisfaction award, so although owners might have spent a little extra, they felt it was money well spent. The Advance 257 has an 8-foot-6-inch beam, so it's legal to tow, allowing the owner to go wherever the fish are biting. And you can bet that a 25-foot great White will get its prey.

Alan Jones September 2003