Beam: 8’6″
Dry Weight: 4,609 lb. (without engine)
Seating/Weight Capacity: 9/3,044 lb.
Fuel Capacity: 97 gal. More Information: harrisboats.com Bill Doster
The Grand Mariner has all the features you’d expect from a plush cruiser. Forward, twin 4-foot-7-inch-long lounges can pack ’em in party style or allow just a few to stretch out in total comfort. Flip down the armrests, toss a cold one in the integrated cup holder and relax. Backrest cushions feature diamond-stitched accents in the lumbar region and optional pillow-top seat backs. A welcome bolster at the seat edge helps you to feel secure while underway and adds support below the knees. Stowage is tucked out of sight below it all within the roto-molded seat bases. Appreciated touches include two-part hinges to allow the cushions to pivot down and out of the way for easy compartment access, and perimeter gutters with drains to keep your belongings and safety gear from getting soggy.
The best seats in this house, however, just might be found aft. There, an 11-foot-long, L-shaped bench wraps around the perimeter, adjacent to a mini sun pad directly behind it, which faces the swim platform. Pivot the shared backrest forward and you can make a mega chaise with more than 16 square feet of comfort, including a stereo remote, phone holder, 12-volt outlet, sound-input jack and no fewer than six cup holders ready to handle almost your every need.
Plush, absolutely, but our test boat wasn’t confined to just the cocktail cruise. On the stern, not one but two Mercury Verado 350s glistened in the sun. Together they pushed the boat onto plane in 4.7 seconds, reached 30 mph in 6.7, and topped out at a not-very-party-bargelike 63.3 mph.
Linked to the optional Mercury Joystick Piloting control system, the engines turned independently to offer impressive control around the dock. A simple pivot or twist of the control knob put the boat precisely where we wanted it, regardless of the wind conditions. Mercury’s Skyhook feature also holds the boat in position, a welcome advantage when waiting off a crowded dock.
High Points
*Notable features include an UltraLux helm seat, quick-release fender system, deep-reaching stainless-steel telescopic ladder, and Mercury’s VesselView 4 display.
*25-inch-diameter tubes flare to 27 inches at the stern to boost performance.
*Optional Delta water-sports tower increases the tow-point height.
How We Tested
Engines: Twin Mercury Verado 350s
Drive/Props: Outboards/Mercury Revolution 4 12″ x 23″ 4-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Fuel Load: 80 gal.
Crew Weight: 350 lb.
Price
$163,870 (with test power)
Contact
Harris Fort Wayne, Indiana; 260-432-4555; harrisboats.com
