It's 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday in late May. You're backing the Freedom 345 off the trailer at the ramp while your wife preps the bow lines and your two teenagers argue over who gets the forward lounge seat. By 7:15, you're clearing the inlet. By 8:00, you're 22 miles offshore with lines in the water. At 11:00, after boxing three mahi and releasing a sail, you pull the rods, fire up the grill at the wet bar, and let the kids jump off the swim platform while lunch cooks. By 3:00 p.m., you're back at the dock. The boat ran flawlessly. No one complained. No one got seasick. And you still have energy left for dinner ashore.
That's the Freedom 345 in a single day.
Who It's For
This boat is for the owner who refuses to choose between fishing and family. You want a tournament-capable fishbox layout, but you also want your spouse to say yes when you suggest a weekend on the water. You need offshore range and ride quality, but you're not interested in explaining to your kids why there's no air conditioning or why the head smells like bait.
The 345 fits buyers in the 45-to-60 age range who have moved past the center console-only phase and now value comfort as much as fishability. You've likely owned three or four boats. You know what works. And you're willing to pay for it if the execution is right.
This is not a boat for the hardcore tournament angler who fishes 60 days a year. It's for the person who fishes 15 to 20 days and cruises another 30. It's for the family that wants to fish the canyons in the morning and anchor at the sandbar by afternoon without changing boats.
Design and Layout: Function Wrapped in Refinement
The Freedom 345 stretches 33'6" with an 11'7" beam. That beam is critical. It gives you walk-around space in the cockpit without sacrificing seating or storage. The layout is clean and deliberate.
Forward, you get wraparound bow seating with a removable fiberglass table that doubles as a sun platform insert. Underneath the port seat is a 125-quart insulated fishbox. Starboard holds a 196-quart box. Both drain overboard. The cushions are thick, and the backrests are angled correctly so you can actually sit there for more than 10 minutes without your lower back reminding you why cheaper boats cut corners.
The helm is where Grady separates itself. Dual Command Elite chairs with flip-up bolsters and fold-down armrests. Flush-mount electronics area with wireless phone charging. Yamaha Helm Master EX with full maneuverability as standard. The sightlines are excellent. The windshield is full-protection walk-through glass with an electromechanically operated center vent. No canvas flapping. No zippers that fail in year three.
Aft, you have three fishbox configurations. Standard is an 87-quart insulated box and a 166-quart box, both with overboard drains and LED lighting. Option three swaps the 166-quart box for a 30-gallon livewell with full-column distribution. If you're serious about live bait, this is the configuration. The fourth option is a fold-away aft bench seat, which makes sense if you're prioritizing cruising over fishing.
The wet bar is positioned to starboard, aft of the companion seating. Corian countertop. Freshwater sink. Refrigerator drawer. Three storage drawers. A 1300-watt grill. And a trash bin. This is not an afterthought. It's a fully functional galley that happens to be outside.
The port console houses an electromechanically operated sliding berth, bench seat, 19-inch LED TV, microwave, skylight, and handcrafted cabinetry with fluted inlay. The starboard console contains the head with shower, sink, quartz countertop, fold-down seat, and VacuFlush system with a 10-gallon holding tank. Both consoles have 8,000 BTU air conditioning with an additional 16,000 BTU unit at the helm. This is yacht-level climate control on a 34-foot dual console.
Performance: The SeaV2 Hull Does the Work
Grady-White's SeaV2 hull has been refined over three decades. It's a 20-degree deadrise at the transom with a progressive entry that softens as you move forward. The result is a hull that cuts through chop without pounding and banks into turns without feeling tippy.
With twin Yamaha 450 XTO Offshores, the 345 hits 52.2 mph at 6,100 RPM. Optimum cruise is 29.9 mph at 3,900 RPM, burning 28.3 gallons per hour for 1.06 mpg. With 300 gallons of fuel, that gives you a range of roughly 280 miles at cruise, accounting for a 10 percent reserve. That's Bimini from South Florida with fuel to spare.
The optional triple Yamaha 350 setup pushes top speed to 56.2 mph and improves cruise efficiency slightly to 30.5 mph at 3,600 RPM, burning 27.7 gph for 1.10 mpg. The triple configuration also improves redundancy and gives you better slow-speed handling in tight marina situations.
Helm Master EX is standard, which means Set Point anchoring, DRiFT mode, and joystick control. You can hold position in current without touching the throttles. You can back into a slip with one finger. And you can do it all without looking like you're trying.
The optional Seakeeper 3 gyroscopic stabilizer is worth the investment if you plan to spend time at anchor or if your crew is prone to seasickness. It reduces roll by up to 95 percent. The difference is measurable and immediate.
Ownership: What It Costs to Run This Boat
The Freedom 345 starts at approximately $531,000 with twin Mercury 400s. With twin Yamaha 450 XTOs, expect to be closer to $575,000 to $600,000 depending on options. Add the Seakeeper 3, upgraded electronics, outriggers, and a few other items, and you're pushing $650,000 to $675,000.
Fuel burn at cruise is roughly 28 to 30 gph. If you run 100 hours per season, that's 2,800 to 3,000 gallons, or $11,200 to $12,000 in fuel at $4 per gallon. Annual maintenance on twin 450s runs $3,000 to $4,000 if you're diligent about oil changes, lower unit service, and winterization. Insurance will be $4,000 to $6,000 depending on your location and claims history. Dockage varies wildly, but budget $200 to $400 per month if you're keeping it in the water.
This is an owner-operator boat. You don't need crew. You don't need a captain. But you do need to understand that a 34-foot dual console with twin 450s is not a cheap date. If you're running it hard, expect to replace props every few seasons. Expect to service the Seakeeper annually. And expect to repaint the bottom every two years if you're in the water full-time.
Resale on Grady-White boats is strong. The brand has a cult following, and the 345 is new enough that the used market hasn't fully formed yet. But based on historical data, expect to retain 60 to 65 percent of your purchase price after five years if you maintain it properly.
Where to Start
The Freedom 345 is the boat you buy when you've figured out what you actually need instead of what you think looks cool. It's not the flashiest boat at the dock. It's not the fastest. But it's the one that works every time you turn the key.
If you're serious about offshore fishing but refuse to sacrifice comfort, this is the boat. If you want your family to actually enjoy being on the water instead of tolerating it, this is the boat. And if you're tired of compromising, this is the boat.
Explore full specifications at YachtSpecsDirect.com
Browse available Grady-White inventory at mintedyachts.com/grady-white