I’m interested in adding a hardtop and frame to my 2004 208.
Yikes... $5k just for the hardtop and frame or the entire boat? If the latter, you might be able to piece it out and get your money back, or most of it. If the former, then I'd say that's quite expensive for a used almost 30 year old hardtop. On top of that, you should be able to get something brand new for a similar price or maybe a little bit more. Sure as hell shouldn't be close to $10k, though.
I keep my 208 on a rack in a nearby neighborhood marina…my boat is wonderful but I’d really like a hardtop. I found the salvage hardtop/support locally for $3,500…which I consider to be an OK deal (not awesome, but not highway robbery). Tack on another $1,000 for quality fabricating/welding…and an extra $500 for wiggle room and it all amounts to $5,000 for a fully installed quality almost factory hardtop.Another option would be this, if indeed the $5k mentioned above is just for the hardtop/support on the boat you're looking at. This one is in Florida, but it's $6k and comes with a nice, somewhat newer aluminum trailer. If you parted it out, kept the trailer for your boat, or whatever you decided on doing.... I'll bet you could make your money back and even then some.
GRADY-WHITE/88'/228G/seafarer/hardtop/trailer - boats - by owner - marine sale - craigslist
G means "Grady Drive" (Bracket for motor)2003 200hp ox66/ EFI /Saltwater series 2 stroke/ Needs midsection/ foot(Lower unit) .Electrolisis damage , Motor runs , Trailer is Nextrail 2004 Aluminum...sarasota.craigslist.org
Correct that’s just a reference for that particular 208’s attachment points. Mine is 2004 (see picture below).
I guess my main thought on the boat in Florida is that you could probably buy the whole thing for the $6k, rob the hardtop and whatever else you needed off of it, and then sell the trailer for probably at least a couple grand, as well as the boat. In theory, you'd likely break even and not spend anything at all, or even come out ahead, but I get it that you don't want another project. Have you contacted any other local shops to see what they charge for a hardtop? $5k for the hardtop support alone seems like quite a bit of money. There was a similar thread to this one just a few weeks and/or months ago about a member looking at a company called Atlantic Towers... they as well as a couple other local shops might be worth a phone call to get some second thoughts on the matter in regard to pricing? I believe the base model Atlantic Towers unit is around $3k and then their custom ones start at $5k. Then the OP decided to go with a different place in Delaware called T Tops ETC, and I believe he said it's going to cost him $4k. Either way you look at it locally for you seems quite expensive to me. Is the local guy with the salvage yard firm on his pricing? I'd maybe start by getting the ladder back chairs and the other items you wanted for $500 first, shop around and see if you can get a better deal, and then go from there...
www.greatgrady.com
It's the above Craigslist ad from Sarasota... it looks like a 1988 hull, 2003 ox66 motor and a 2004 aluminum I-beam trailer. But it comes with the factory style hardtop, which if it were me I'd rob that from the boat, keep the trailer if you don't have one or just sell everything else off as is. I'm thinking that you would spend less doing that as opposed to paying $5k-$10k out of pocket for the one that's local to you, as I'm thinking the trailer alone would be worth at least a couple grand. Same for the hull, etc.What the hell - send me a link to the one in FL
There was a huge change, at least for the 226/228 Seafarer between 1997 and 1998. If you look at the second picture the OP posted, the 1997 and earlier style have the two almost vertical front cabin windows just below the windshield, whereas the 1998 and later style like our boats do not. It's a very quick and easy way to tell which body style it is. The 208 Adventure has that same vertical surface but doesn't have the cabin windows there on the earlier models. There are a few other quick ways of identifying the vintage by looking at the side cabin windows, where the 1997 and older versions had a different style and shape of window trim. The 1997 and earlier style resemble a rhombus figure with points on the bottom and top, whereas the 1997 and later style are more of a rectangle shape pattern. Which is why your hardtop worked almost perfectly on your buddy's boat but the hardtop that the OP is looking at is from a mid 1990's boat with different mounting locations and a different design.
