Cover for entire boat with Hard Top

Peanut · Oct 12, 2011

Hi. New to the forums and just recently became a proud owner of a 1991 Grady White Sailfish 252G.
I'm up here in the northwest in Always Sunny Seattle...(heh)

The boat has pretty much been in fresh water all its life under covered Moorage. Im looking to move the boat closer to home and the best solution I found was dry docking it rather than keeping it in salt yearround. Indoor storage marina's are quoting me $350-400+ per month. I dont have a trailer so I can't pull it somewhere that has alternative cheaper indoor storage. Since it will no longer be under cover, I wanted to protect it from the environmental exposure as much as possible.

I was thinking of some sort of cover that will cover the entire boat. I have most of the canvas that covers the cockpit area. Im Missing the port side window canvas. But I was thinking why not cover the whole boat during the winter months.

Was just wondering if anyone has ever seen one of these for Grady white boats or a different solution. If it has to be custom made, I probably wont do it due to high costs and I'll just throw a tarp over the boat but it would be nice to have something fit snugly on the boat.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

ROBERTH · Oct 12, 2011

Welcome Peanut, I just got my '92 252G earlier this year. Absolutely love it.
I have been checking into a cover also for winter here to keep mostly leaves out when I bring it inland from the coast.
So far, can not find a premade cover for this model.
A local canvas shop here quoted me approx. $1400 for a custom high quality cover. Does not cover the hardtop, but connects just under and allows breathing which is a great idea to prevent mold/mildew and also will be much easier to attach to boat as don't have to deal with radar, gps, antennae's, etc.

I did find one advertiser, here on this site that had a cheaper cover, but it was an over the hardtop model and was not clear on how to handle the hardware mounted on top as mentioned, so if I went with one, would likely order the 27 Sailfish model cover to have some extra for the radar, etc. I think that one was approx. $600. But, likely not that high of quality for that price.

Hoping to save up and get the custom cover for longer life.

Peanut · Oct 13, 2011

Thanks for the tip. I didn't even think about leaving the top opened. That would solve the problem for all my antenna's, radar, etc...

I'll have to check locally to see if someone would outfit a cover for a reasonable price.

Cheers!

grady23 · Oct 17, 2011

I have seen custom covers from Fisher Canvas and they are very nicely made. Heavy canvas material and tie-downs in all the right places for a tight fit. They are also very heavy to handle. I helped put one on a 25' Chaparral and it took 4 of us to get the thing on. They will however, last a long time.

grady33 · Oct 17, 2011

Bought a cover last year from boat covers direct. Awesome job and well made. Cost me about 800+. Much better then dealing with shrink-wrap and mold in the spring. Paid for itself in one season! Wish I had bought one 5 years ago.

GTOMAN · Oct 18, 2011

I had one custom made for my 272 Sailfish. To make it manageable easily by one person, I had it made in 4 sections that zip together just outside the 4 posts of the hardtop. The hardtop is not covered and the 4 sections separately slip into a track that is screwed to the underside of the hardtop. There are two small sections for the port and starboard sides of the helm area and two larger sections for the aft and front sections of the boat. The aft section covers the motors also. You will need a post under the front section, about where the walking area is up by the anchor hold, to keep water from pooling in the front section. Overton's sells one that goes thru a hole in the canvas and you pull up the canvas and secure it to a slot in the top of the post with a small rope. Getting the post in place, without falling off the ladder you need to reach it, is the most difficult part.

Strikezone · Oct 18, 2011

Does anyone know the name of the company that used to advertise covers on Great Grady? I haven't been on in quite a while and can't seem to find their advertisement anymore. I'm interested in talking with them about a cover.

rookie725 · Oct 19, 2011

Thanks for the info re: Fisher Canvas. Looks like exactly what I need.

Biscayne208 · Feb 13, 2012

I had mine custom made in 2 sections. it really is easy to put on and was about 1700 if I remember correctly.(208 Adventure) Sunbrella material with gore tex stitching. I recoomend you do it right the first time. if you go the cheap route you will be replacing the cover more often than you like.

freddy063 · Feb 17, 2012

For what it is worth I found that I was better off just getting a 30' X40' white plastic tarp for around $ 130. I was using the cheaper blue tarps they last about 4 years before there trashed, but the white tarps are a lot thicker and better made. The first canvas cover I had didn't last very long at all, it rotted out after about 3 years. Where I live my biggest reason to cover is the winter, leaves, ice and snow, and I put them damp catcher tubs thing and I've been satisflyed with my cover setup.

JeffN · Feb 18, 2012

I have a radar ach on my 254 and I run 1 1/2" PVC from bow to stern over the arch and cover with a 20' X 30' silver trap with a black back side from Northern Tool. I have done it for years and works like a champ. The tarps last usually four winters. The "frame" extends past the transom and onto the swim deck so there is a gap there for ventilation. I can enter the boat under the cover there and have standing head room in the cockpit. On a nice day it gets pretty toasty in there.

Curmudgeon · Feb 18, 2012

Call http://www.carvercovers.com/ and speak with them. They'll know if they have patterns for what you want; won't sell direct, but they'll be able to point you to a vendor. I bought a 'semi-custom' for my T-22 about 6 years ago, you'd never know it wasn't custom or now six years old ... :wink:

GulfSea · Feb 18, 2012

I'll try to get around to posting a picture of mine. I had one custom made for my 228 several months ago and because I enjoy working on it often, I had them put a zippered access area for the cockpit. So the entire boat stays covered but in 5 minutes or less, I can open the rear deck and helm up for access. Then close it up just as quickly.

'84Offshore · Feb 19, 2012

Try ebay!!

ROBERTH · Feb 20, 2012

Peanut, here is where I ended up. I think I posted pics on another post so might find it with a search. This setup is great. Can get in and work all day and not have any issues with cover removal. Air flow is good also so no mildew. So far, since I am in the trees, no debris or wind issues with back open. To cover entire back side, would have needed another 5 feet in length. This one was a 20 X 30 I got from Lowes.

ROBERTH · Feb 20, 2012

From inside.

G8RDave · Mar 2, 2012

Here's the cover I use. I got it from boatcoversdirect, I think. Mine is a 228, but I'm sure they have your size too.

Try here. http://www.boatcoversdirect.com/product ... /style/42/

sfc2113 · Mar 2, 2012

I use a small 5x7 tarp on the cockpit area , then cover the whole boat with a 25x17 tarp, then put my trailering cover over them and strap it down. It is sitting about 2 blocks from the beach and takes some nasty winds and no problems. The guy next to me uses a tarp and usually there in nothing left but this year he got lucky, hense the name of his boat "Reel Lucky"

Cover for entire boat with Hard Top

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