Please select your home edition
Edition
Super Yachts at boot (newsletter)

Grady satisfied the fishermen and day cruisers in this boat loving family

by Grady-White 27 Apr 2022 17:32 UTC

Chris Shields had a lot to think about when he set out to purchase the family's fourth Grady-White. He wanted to be able to safely fish with his 75-year-old father, therefore offshore reliability and stability were top of mind.

Equally important was spending time cruising with his wife, Leigh, mother, Mildred, and four-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Ann, around their vacation home on Tiki Island in Galveston, Texas. With a dual console vs. center console family debate taking place, Chris had a list of features that would suit everyone. The Canyon 306 easily satisfied each and every desire - and more.

The Shields family's love of Grady-White boats began around 1988 when Chris and his dad attended a Houston boat show. There, they met Eddie Smith, owner of Grady-White Boats. That interaction made a real impression on Chris, who was just graduating from high school.

"He was so open and personable," recalls Chris. "He took the time to show us the boat and its many features. Even at a young age, I was acutely aware of the quality of the boats Grady-White made."

Their first Grady, a Fisherman 204, was a superb boat and did everything they wanted it to do. Chris credits that boat and the time he spent fishing and hunting with his dad, as well as summers with his mom, dad, and sister at their house on the water in Galveston, Texas, with keeping him out of trouble when he was growing up. Today, they continue boating around Tiki Island and the Galveston area where they each have weekend homes and enjoy raising their children much like they were raised. A highlight for Elizabeth Ann is going to see the dolphins swim near the port of Galveston.

Through the years, they had a few other Gradys. The second was the same model and similar to their first, but with new features and electronics. Then in 2019, Chris decided to purchase a larger boat, the Fisherman 236. Because of a new business venture, Chris and his dad had not gotten to fish as much as they'd wanted, but after purchasing the 236 they had lots of opportunities.

In Chris' words, "We fished the heck out of that boat!" One of Chris' most memorable moments was on that boat fishing with his dad. "We were about 50 miles offshore, and Dad caught his largest snapper (16 lbs.), and I caught my first Cobia (50 lbs.)," recalls Chris. "It was a fun, safe, and successful trip, full of priceless memories."

Recently, the desire to give his dad a little more offshore fishing stability led Chris back to the dealership. He was surprised to find that even in the short time since he bought the 236, Grady-White had added many new standard features to their already great boats.

Ultimately, after looking at a few different models, he chose the Canyon 306 for the wide 10 half foot beam, cockpit side door, and Gemlux® outriggers - just to name a few of the features that sold Chris and his wife on the 306. Soon after taking delivery, he and his dad went on an inaugural voyage and were thrilled at the amazing ride - even in the chop at 30 miles per hour! Now that the weather is warming up, the Shields men are getting familiar with all the great features of the new boat.

"The electronics, Helm Master™, and the windlass system will take a little time to learn - but I'm loving it!" said Chris who notes, "Life is short! Spend time with family!" That's just what they intend to do with this new Grady. Fish, play, make the most of every day and, of course, keep Elizabeth Ann out of trouble!

Related Articles

Grady-White passion extends to family and friends
Dan Langdon purchased his first Grady-White with his father in 1989 Dan Langdon purchased his first Grady-White with his father in 1989. After years of owning other boat brands, they decided they would step it up and buy a higher quality boat together. Posted on 26 Oct
Trolling for King Mackerel
Fun for all ages and skill levels There's nothing quite like the exhilaration you feel when you're out trolling and the rod bends as you hear the sweet sound of drag being pulled out of the reel. Posted on 29 Aug
Dolphinfish Research Program milestones
Now the largest initiative to investigate the movement and population of dolphinfish The Dolphinfish Research Program, now the largest initiative to investigate the movement and population of dolphinfish, was started by Don Hammond in 2002 with a grant from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Posted on 2 Aug
Boat with confidence on a Grady-White
See how this Grady-White customer battle tested his Express 370! Grady-White boats are known for delivering the driest, most stable ride. That's one of the reasons Luis and Melissa Riesco purchased their Express 370. Posted on 29 Jun
On the water grilling - Useful tips
Treat your guests to a hot meal onboard using these boat grilling tips Many of Grady-White's models have a grill option, which gives you terrific flexibility. But if you don't have one built in there are a variety of grills that are manufactured specifically for marine use. Posted on 27 Jun
Grady-White ocean crossing surpasses expectations
When the going gets rough this Grady gets going David Poston has enjoyed every Grady-White he's ever owned starting in 2005 when he purchased a Freedom 205. Posted on 24 May
Tilt and Trim: There is a difference
Here's some information to get you started If you think it's enough to just tilt the motors down, accelerate, and leave them in the same position all day, you're missing out on a better ride and overall performance from your boat. Here's some information to get you started. Posted on 27 Apr
Rough weather no problem for this Grady enthusiast
Karen Smith started her own boating endeavors with small boats Karen Smith always loved being in and on the water as a child. Even when it was cold and rough, you could find her surfing, snorkeling, fishing or exploring. Posted on 25 Apr
Walk through new Grady-White models
281 Coastal Explorer and Adventure 218 walkthrough videos led by Bill Hackett There's been a lot of excitement at the Grady-White booth during this year's boat shows. In the fall, we introduced the Adventure 218, and our 281 Coastal Explorer made its debut at the spring shows. Posted on 29 Mar
Center consoles can do double duty
Is a dual console really a fishing boat? You've been dreaming of owning a center console fishing boat all your life, but with a growing family, you're not sure that's the best model for you - at least not right now. Think again! Posted on 28 Mar