Galeon Yachts, marking its 40th anniversary, has entered the growing market for outboard-powered day boats with its Grand Touring Outboard (GTO) series. Introduced at the 2021 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the GTO line debuted with the Galeon 325 GTO, a compact model just under 33 feet that becomes the smallest and the first outboard-powered craft in a range that extends up to 70 feet.
Interest in the 325 GTO was immediate. MarineMax brand manager Bob Burke reported at the show that more than 30 of the 325 GTOs had already been sold, noting strong appeal among young families. The boat’s layout and features clearly aim at prioritizing family use and comfortable dayboating.
One of the standout family-friendly features is the molded swim platform, which extends beyond the outboards on each side. This design provides a convenient walk-on route from dock to boat and a safe, stable spot for swimmers to enter and exit the water while anchored. The adjustable transom seat back allows adults to sit facing the water to keep an eye on kids swimming, enhancing both convenience and safety.
The 325 GTO’s single-level deck runs continuously from bow to stern, offering secure footing when the boat is underway. Decking is constructed from synthetic material for easy maintenance and a more comfortable feel underfoot. Practical amenities for family outings include an enclosed head and a belowdecks cabin with sleeping areas, so children can nap away from direct sun.
Designed with contemporary lines, the 325 GTO emphasizes an outdoor-living experience that connects passengers with the water. To expand usable space when the boat is alongside a dock or at anchor, the port aft gunwale folds down at the push of a button, adding more than three feet of beam. Heavy-duty hinges sit flush with the deck when the platform is stowed, preventing snags or trips. Owners with small children should ensure the removable railing stanchions and safety lines are installed whenever appropriate.
Today’s buyers expect a functional on-deck galley, and the 325 GTO delivers a well-integrated “summer kitchen.” A large molded-in unit includes a sink, an electric grill, storage, a compact refrigerator, and a built-in trash receptacle under the sink, making meal prep and cleanup straightforward during day trips.
Galeon is known for seaworthy hulls, yet the 325 GTO reads primarily as a fair-weather cruiser unless additional canvas is fitted. A hardtop shelters the helm and galley, and the show boat was equipped with a SureShade power shade that extended coverage over the aft cockpit. The windshield is heavy-duty glass, but side protection is limited to two small tinted plexiglass inserts rather than full side windows, so protection from wind and rain is modest without added enclosures.
The port-side entry to the bow is closed off by a three-part door whose central glass panel continues the windshield line, improving visibility forward. Because that glass panel is heavy, Galeon engineered it to open downward rather than hinging upward, a practical solution that keeps the center of gravity controlled when operating the door.
The helm area is generously scaled for a boat of this size, with two comfortable, contoured helm seats and room for twin 16-inch multifunction displays. The show configuration included Mercury’s VesselView engine-management display on one screen and a Mercury joystick control adjacent to the starboard helm seat. Galeon specifies twin 350-hp Mercury Verado outboards as standard power; the show boat featured optional 400-hp Verados, which the builder reports yield a cruising speed of about 33 knots and a top speed near 37 knots.
Below decks, accessed by a companionway to port of the helm, the cabin is surprisingly roomy. It offers a convertible V-berth and a double mid-berth, with 6 feet 2 inches of headroom. Clever window placement floods the space with natural light, and the enclosed head is configured as a wet head with ample room to move and a port that opens for ventilation. As Burke summed up, the 325 GTO provides the full day-boat experience while also allowing comfortable overnighting when needed.
Specifications
LOA: 32’9”
Beam: 10’11”
Draft (max): 3’7”
Weight (dry): 14,200 lbs.
Fuel: 225 gals.
Water: 32 gals.
Power: (2) 400-hp Mercury Verados
This article was originally published in the February 2022 issue.