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Grand Banks Factory

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia.
  • By Capt. Bill Pike
  • July 15, 2015

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

To achieve the exterior good looks of each Grand Banks yacht, with its distinctive faux planked hullsides, multi-part tooling is used at the Grand Banks factory in Malaysia.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

At the Grand Banks factory in Malaysia, this teak-and-holly sole is prepared remotely and then fitted into its hull, with at least 10 layers of poly varnish already applied.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

Multi-part molds are “popped” apart using a variety of techniques.
This occurs, of course, after a hull has been laid up and properly cured.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

Fiberglass pad eyes are temporarily fastened to heavy parts
so they can be easily lifted with giant overhead cranes.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

Paul Wrench, long-time Australian boat builder (and recently appointed Manager of New Product Development for Grand Banks), explains how the new regime at Grand Banks plans to change things. High-tech vinylester resins are in the offing, as well as finer fabrics and thinner, lighter laminates.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

This placard hanging in one of the building bays at the Grand Banks factory in Malaysia synopsizes a work ethic that’s served Grand Banks well for almost six decades now.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

Badrul Munir, a young craftsman who works in the woodshop, learned how to build steering wheels from an older craftsman who retired some years ago.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

A pervasive blue-plastic film protects stainless-steel deck hardware, large panels, and other surfaces and components from damage.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

Wire runs are carefully loomed and bracketed and hidden from sight
behind easy-to-remove panels for easy access.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

Teak cockpit and deck planks at the Grand Banks factory in Malaysia are typically 5/8” thick and secured in TDS (Teak Decking Systems) epoxy. No phantasmagoria of screws and bungs to fool with.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

A variety of propulsion systems are installed at the factory. The pod drive shown here is obviously part of a Zeus system, given presence of the breakaway skeg and the beefy bronze auto-trim-tab plate.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

The work force at the Grand Banks factory in Malaysia is talented, industrious, and comprises a surprising number of women.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

While the rains pound down outside, Capt. Bill Pike examines computer renderings of new boats
the new regime at Grand Banks is planning to build.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

Perfectionistic joinery is one of the hallmarks of any Grand Banks yacht. To create perfect cabinetry at the Grand Banks factory in Malaysia, workers use piles of glue, battens, dowels, and (as shown here) adjustable clamps.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

One more shot of Badrul Munir, the guy who builds all the steering wheels at the factory.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

The woodshop is shown here. Certainly, a great deal of the boatbuilding process at Grand Banks is computerized, but there’s also a good deal of work that’s done by hand as well.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

Note that the semi-completed yachts are held in cradles with casters on the bottom,
rendering them easy to move.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

Sneaking a peek at a new flybridge helm at the Grand Banks factory.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

Closing time at the factory puts a lot of automobiles on the road,
but also a lot of scooters and motorcycles as well.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

Tour of the Grand Banks Factory in Malaysia

Aluminum fishing skiffs are pulled ashore just across the way from the haulout slip at the factory.
Not your average haulout slip, this.

Click here for Grand Banks’s contact information and index of articles ▶

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