Grady-White 281 CE 28-foot Coastal Explorer boat running on the water with three people aboard

The All New 281 CE

28' COASTAL EXPLORER

The ultimate inshore/offshore boat, built on Grady-White’s legendary SeaV²^® hull, the all-new 281 Coastal Explorer is a real game-changer! Packed with ingenuity, starting with a new standard portside electric fold down platform with stowable ladder and the newly designed aft bench seat with three different configurations, this top-of-the-line Grady-White boat delivers triple the thrills. From fishing the shallows, and the deepest offshore canyons, to riding in luxury and style to and from the sandbar, this incredibly versatile boat will be the delight of the entire family!

PHOTO GALLERY

Photo Gallery

Grady White 281 CE with Men Fishing from Bow

Grady White 281 CE at Beach With Fisherman on Shore

Grady White 281 CE port side cruising at sunrise

Grady White 281 CE cruising starboard near shoreline

Grady White 281 CE with Woman On Sport Deck

Grady White 281 CE Bow Seating with Seat Back in Upright Position

Grady White 281 CE Aft Bench Seat with port and starboard swing-open walk-through backrests

Grady White 281 CE Aft Bench Seat with port and starboard swing-open walk-through backrests and seat cushions

Grady White 281 CE Aft Bench Seat with Cushions and Seat Backs

Grady-White 281 CE Sportdeck with stowable ladder

Grady White 281 CE under gunnel rod holders

Grady White 281 CE casting platform with optional extension insert without cushions

Grady White 281 CE casting platform without cushions

Grady White 281 CE casting platform with cushion

DOWNLOAD MODEL POSTER

main specs

281 CE Main Specifications

Beam Amidships

9'4" (2.84 m)

Center Line Length w/o Engines

27'7" (8.41 m)

Bridge Clearance

7'11" (2.41 m)

Cockpit Depth

22" (0.56 m)

Hull Draft

19" (0.48 m)

Transom Deadrise

16 degrees (SeaV^2® progression)

Maximum HP

600 (448 kW)

Fuel Capacity - Standard

160 gal. (606 l)

Weight w/o Engines

5650 lb. (2563 kg)

features & options

281 CE Features & Options

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Select camera icons where available to view feature photos

Denotes feature as trademarked, exclusive, patented, or patent pending

STANDARD FEATURES

Safety

2 automatic bilge pumps (total 2600 GPH) (9842 LPH)

Basic flotation

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with full bow casting platform insert and sun pad

Bow grab rail - low profile 316 grade stainless steel

An iPad and iPhone displaying the Captain Grady app

Captain Grady® - digital boat systems & operations guide for iPad & iPhone

Composite stringer system & transom - water impervious

Fire extinguisher holder

Nonskid fiberglass liner

Self-bailing cockpit w/cockpit drains (2)

Stainless steel through-hull fittings

Stern grab rail - low profile 316 grade stainless steel

Cockpit & Deck

100% hand laid SeaV² hull & deck

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with bow anchor locker and windlass

Anchor windlass w/remote switches at helm & windlass

Batteries (2) w/battery select switch (1) & battery charger (1)

Casting platform insert w/cushion

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with pull up cleats

Cleats - flush mount (pull up)

Cockpit lights - blue LED

Deck hardware - 316 grade stainless steel through-bolted

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with drink holders in the gunwale

Drink holders - stainless steel (8)

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with engine flush attachment

Engine flush system w/hose attachment aft (one per engine)

Factory engine pre-rigging

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with forward fish boxes

Fish box - 70-qt (66.2 l) forward port & starboard insulated fish box w/ob drain (2)

Forward bolsters

Hydraulic trim tabs w/indicator & auto retract

International lighting

Livewell - 18-gallon (68 l) aft insulated raw water livewell w/light & ob drain (500 GPH pump) (1893 LPH)

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with rod holders in gunwale

Rod holders - aft (4), amidships (4)

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with gunwale rod storage racks

Rod storage racks - horizontal (2)

Rubrail - high density PVC w/stainless steel insert

Seating - aft bench seat w/port & starboard swing-open walk-through backrests

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with forward console seat and bow seats

Seating - port & starboard bow cushioned seating w/electromechanically adjustable backrests

Sport Deck – electromechanically folding platform w/boarding ladder

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with stereo at helm, outlets, drink holders, and a grab rail

Stereo system w/waterproof touch screen display, AM/FM tuner, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth® connectivity; speakers w/LED lights - bow (2), cockpit (2), T-top (2)

Stern eyes - 316 grade stainless steel

Storage - port & starboard under seat drop in boxes

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with dedicated ladder storage compartment

Storage - port boarding ladder storage

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with forward anchor locker storage

Storage - forward anchor locker w/rode storage

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with storage drawers in bow

Storage - lockable storage drawers (2)

Water tank - 18-gallon (68.1 l) fresh water

Console

Accessory outlet - 12V (1)

Accessory outlet - 5V duplex USB port

Compass

Console grab rail

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with forward console cooler box

Cooler - 296-qt (280.1 l) cooler under forward console seat w/removable divider

Drink holders - stainless steel (2)

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with molded console footrest

Footrest - molded console footrest

Flush mount electronics area

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with stand up head area

Head - lockable console w/lighting, bulk storage, composite cherry & holly sole & marine head w/electric flush, 10-gallon (38 l) holding tank w/macerator, overboard discharge & deck pump out

Seating - molded forward console lounge seat w/cushion & backrest

Steering - Helm Master EX® w/Integrated Digital Electric Steering (does not include joystick)

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with steering wheel at helm

Steering wheel - 316 grade stainless steel w/knob

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with T-top

T-top (fiberglass) w/painted aluminum frame, storage net, LED spreader lights, rod holders (4), tri-colored (red, blue, white) LED recessed lights (3), radar flat & outrigger plates

Window - tinted frameless glass

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with integrated windshield and windshield wiper

Windshield - scratch resistant acrylic integrated w/T-top

Windshield wiper w/washer

Deluxe Lean Bar

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with built in lean bar rod storage

Knife & pliers holders

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with lean bar livewell and bait locker with washdown

Livewell - 38-gal. (144 l) insulated raw water livewell w/light, full column distribution inlet & ob drain (1100 GPH pump) (4164 LPH)

Painted rod holders (4)

Rigging station - freshwater shower (recessed), cutting board & bait locker

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat deluxe lean bar seat backrest w/split flip-up bolster.

Seating - backrest w/split flip-up bolster

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with tackle storage and drawer

Storage - lockable storage drawer

Storage - lockable w/tackle trays (6)

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with lean bar washdown and storage

Storage - port net storage area

Washdown - pressurized raw water w/hose

OPTIONAL FEATURES

Options

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with bow table

Bow table package

Casting platform extension insert w/cushion

CE certification package (European Conformity)

Yamaha factory painted engines in white, shown here as twins on a Freedom 307 dual console

Engine paint - Yamaha factory-painted engine(s), pearlescent white (300 and 425 HP) or primer (425 HP only)

Hull color - Celestial Blue, Coastal Fog, Ocean Mist, or Sea Glass gelcoat

Lighting - underwater blue LED (2)

Outrigger kit - 18-ft. (5.5 m) crank hardtop mounted stainless steel outriggers w/carbon fiber poles

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with command elite helm seats on lean bar

Seating - Elite lean bar w/Command Elite helm chairs (2), painted rod holders (4), 38-gal. (144 l) insulated raw water livewell, freshwater shower (recessed), raw water washdown w/hose, bait locker, cutting board, lockable storage drawers (3), tackle storage, port net storage area & knife & plier holders

Seating - removable aft bench seat center backrest

Ski arch (only available w/single 425 engine)

Ski pylon (only available w/twin 300 engines)

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat with helm master full maneuverability

Steering - Helm Master EX® Full Maneuverability w/autopilot

SureShade® electrically retractable cockpit shade w/Sunbrella® canvas (oyster)

T-top color - underside of fiberglass T-top (requires matching gelcoat hull color option)

Grady-White 281 coastal explorer 28' fishing boat bow layout with full casting platform and trolling motor

Trolling motor pre-rig - swivel mounting bracket w/quick release, head stabilizer, 36V batteries (3), and 20-amp battery charger (trolling motor not included)

Canvas Options

Bow shade shown here on the Fisherman 257 center console Grady-White boat

Easy up bow shade (ivory mesh)

T-top wing curtains (black or ivory)

performance

281 CE Performance Data

425 Yamaha Four-Stroke

Single

Top Speed: 50.0 MPH @ 5900 RPM

Optimum Cruise: 29.8 MPH @ 3800 RPM

GPH at Optimum Cruise: 13.6

MPG at Optimum Cruise: 2.19

300 Yamaha Four-Stroke

Twin

Top Speed: 57.4 MPH @ 6000 RPM

Optimum Cruise: 29.1 MPH @ 3100 RPM

GPH at Optimum Cruise: 12.3

MPG at Optimum Cruise: 2.37

425 Yamaha Four-Stroke

Single

Engine Size

5.6L

Test Date

3/22/2022

Prop Size

16 5/8 X 19 XTO SDS

Weight as Tested

7977 lb. (including persons, fuel, water, gear, engines & accessories)

Hardtop

Yes

Bow Pulpit

Bottom Paint

Optimum Cruise

29.8 MPH @ 3800 RPM

RPM	MPH	GPH	MPG
1000	5.6	1.9	2.95
1500	7.5	2.8	2.68
2000	8.7	4.2	2.07
2500	12.5	6.7	1.87
3000	18.1	8.8	2.06
3500	26.0	11.6	2.24
3800	29.8	13.6	2.19
4000	32.4	14.8	2.19
4500	37.6	20.1	1.87
5000	42.4	25.5	1.66
5500	47.1	34.3	1.37
5900	50.0	37.3	1.34

Back To Engines

PERFORMANCE DISCLAIMERS

The following variables can affect performance: wind, current, sea conditions, speed, engine performance, transducer, trolling time, engine trim, bottom paint, trim tabs, curtains, tops, gear placement and prop size/condition/type. This report should be used only as a general reference guide. Prop size, pitch and prop features listed in this performance report reflect the available props factory installed on new boats from Grady-White at this time. Props cited in the report may be an updated version(s) of the prop(s) used at the time of the test.

300 Yamaha Four-Stroke

Twin

Engine Size

4.2L

Test Date

4/22/2022

Prop Size

15 1/4 X 19 SWS II SDS

Weight as Tested

8247 lb. (including persons, fuel, water, gear, engines & accessories)

Hardtop

Yes

Bow Pulpit

Bottom Paint

Optimum Cruise

29.1 MPH @ 3100 RPM

RPM	MPH	GPH	MPG
1000	6.2	2.7	2.30
1500	8.5	4.5	1.89
2000	10.4	7.3	1.42
2500	17.6	10.0	1.76
3000	27.8	12.2	2.28
3100	29.1	12.3	2.37
3500	33.8	15.8	2.14
4000	39.3	22.3	1.76
4500	43.6	28.6	1.52
5000	48.5	36.5	1.33
5500	53.4	47.1	1.13
6000	57.4	53.8	1.07

Back To Engines

PERFORMANCE DISCLAIMERS

425 Yamaha Four-Stroke

Single

Engine Size

5.6L

Test Date

3/22/2022

Prop Size

16 5/8 X 19 XTO SDS

Weight as Tested

7977 lb. (including persons, fuel, water, gear, engines & accessories)

Hardtop

Yes

Bow Pulpit

Bottom Paint

Optimum Cruise

29.8 MPH @ 3800 RPM

RPM	MPH	GPH	MPG
1000	5.6	1.9	2.95
1500	7.5	2.8	2.68
2000	8.7	4.2	2.07
2500	12.5	6.7	1.87
3000	18.1	8.8	2.06
3500	26.0	11.6	2.24
3800	29.8	13.6	2.19
4000	32.4	14.8	2.19
4500	37.6	20.1	1.87
5000	42.4	25.5	1.66
5500	47.1	34.3	1.37
5900	50.0	37.3	1.34

300 Yamaha Four-Stroke

Twin

Engine Size

4.2L

Test Date

4/22/2022

Prop Size

15 1/4 X 19 SWS II SDS

Weight as Tested

8247 lb. (including persons, fuel, water, gear, engines & accessories)

Hardtop

Yes

Bow Pulpit

Bottom Paint

Optimum Cruise

29.1 MPH @ 3100 RPM

RPM	MPH	GPH	MPG
1000	6.2	2.7	2.30
1500	8.5	4.5	1.89
2000	10.4	7.3	1.42
2500	17.6	10.0	1.76
3000	27.8	12.2	2.28
3100	29.1	12.3	2.37
3500	33.8	15.8	2.14
4000	39.3	22.3	1.76
4500	43.6	28.6	1.52
5000	48.5	36.5	1.33
5500	53.4	47.1	1.13
6000	57.4	53.8	1.07