GranOcean W-72 owner Roy Anderson shares his experience with customization, build quality, performance and working directly with the GranOcean team.
When experienced power catamaran owner Roy Anderson began looking for his next yacht, he already understood the realities of new-boat ownership. Having previously owned a Lagoon power catamaran, he knew that specifications and styling were only part of the decision. Build quality, customization and the people standing behind the yacht were equally important.
Roy was introduced to GranOcean by Stephen Cockcroft of Catamaran Guru, who had helped him purchase and later sell his previous yacht. After touring a GranOcean W-72 in Fort Lauderdale, Roy saw an opportunity to create a yacht tailored to how he and his wife actually live onboard.
Meaningful Customization—not Just Cosmetic Choices
For Roy, customization meant looking closely at how every area of the yacht would function.
He and his wife added two sun pads at the bow, requested improved handrails leading to the flybridge and reconfigured the crew area. They added bedside tables to each cabin, relocated the dryer so it could vent outside and revised the owner’s cabin to provide more storage.
Rather than automatically choosing a large master suite with a desk and sitting area, they drew on their experience with their previous yacht.
“We found that you don’t spend a lot of time in your bedroom,” Roy explained. “You want to spend most of your time outside.”
They prioritized the bow, cockpit and flybridge—the living areas they knew they would use most.
Get the Yacht You Actually Want
Roy’s advice to other buyers is straightforward: focus on what matters to you rather than simply accepting a standard configuration.
“Get what you want,” he said. “Get the features that are going to make you happy and allow you to enjoy your boat.”
For Roy, that is where GranOcean stands apart. The team worked closely with him to translate his priorities into the finished yacht, from major performance decisions to highly specific changes in storage, equipment and onboard living spaces.
“That’s the beauty of working with Eric and Scott,” he explained. “If they can, they will. And if they can’t, they’ll tell you.”
Roy’s experience demonstrates that GranOcean offers more than a list of optional finishes. Owners have the opportunity to help shape a yacht around how they intend to use it, supported by the technical guidance and honest feedback needed to achieve the best result.
A Builder Willing to Listen
Roy and his wife visited the GranOcean shipyard in China twice during the build. He worked directly with GranOcean’s Eric So and Scott Suen while also involving his experienced captain in technical discussions.
Roy valued the team’s willingness to consider new ideas, but he equally appreciated their willingness to push back when a request was impractical. Some ideas developed for his W-72 have since influenced later GranOcean builds, including changes to access and safety features.
“They’re learning all the time,” Roy said. “Every boat’s better because they’re taking the ideas from everyone else’s previous builds.”
The handling and the performance in the ocean surprised me the most. The performance, the quality, and the fit and finish were more than I expected.
Quality & Performance Beyond Expectations
The greatest surprise came during sea trials, when Roy’s W-72 reached approximately 27 knots.
“The handling and the performance in the ocean surprised me the most,” he said.
His captain was similarly impressed by the yacht’s structural feel, spacious engine rooms, clearly marked systems and technical organization. Roy said the same attention was apparent throughout the yacht’s interior fit and finish.
“The performance, the quality, and the fit and finish were more than I expected.”
Roy also made deliberate choices about engines, solar capacity, batteries and quiet, efficient air conditioning. His goal was not simply maximum speed, but comfortable cruising and quieter nights at anchor with less generator use.
Roy acknowledged that every new yacht will require some adjustments after delivery. What matters is the underlying quality and whether the builder remains responsive when an issue arises. In his experience, Eric and Scott remained accessible, listened to concerns and worked to address them.
The Strongest Owner Endorsement
Perhaps the clearest endorsement of Roy’s experience is what comes next: he is already working with Eric and Scott on ideas for another GranOcean.
As Roy summarized it: “You’re going to get a good boat, and you’re going to be dealing with good people.”
