Grady Seafarer 228 - Accessories

[cliftonjay]

I have a 2000 Grady Seafarer 228; and am looking for some things:
- Swim Platform. Mine has the motor bracket; and am wondering if Grady has a special swim platform that would go across the bracket.
- Cockpit Cover. Mine has the bimini; but when it's at dock it would be nice to have some kind of cockpit cover. Does Grady make one, or do I need to custom it?
- Gelcoat. Is there a particular mix of gelcoat that's a perfect match for Grady?
Much thanks...CLIF

 

[glacierbaze]

Mine is also a 2000, and the swim platform does go across the bracket.

 

[SeanC]

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There isn’t a particular mix that is perfect. As a boat ages the gel coat fades so each boat’s gel coat is a slightly different colour. A fibreglassing shop may be able to mix a colour to suit if the have access to the boat.

 

[Ky Grady]

Being as yours is a 2000 model, everything you have asked about is sourced outside of Grady-White as the boat is 24 years old. Grady-White quit building our Seafarer's a few years back. The swim platform, you may find a takeoff somewhere, check ebay.com and Craigslist. The cover will be a custom one done by your local upholstery shop, or you could reach out to A&J Canvas in Vanceboro NC to see if they have a pattern for one, as they are the OEM supplier for curtains and such for Grady-White. As far as the gelcoat goes, that will be a custom blend by a good fiberglass shop, and even then, it may not be a perfect match due to the variations in fade around your boat if you are touching up various locations.

 

[cliftonjay]

Wow, great input. Thanks All.

 

[luckydude]

On the cover, my advice is to go off the shelf, I think there is a company called Carver that makes them. If you can find a lighter fabric that's going to be a lot easier in a one piece cover.

 

[Don Davis]

I have a 1999 228 Seafarer and had to get a new drop curtain made which I believe the upholstery shop used Sunbrella navy blue to match the rest of my curtains that were on the boat

 

[Mustang65fbk]

One thing to note is that not all boats came standard with a swim platform. I'm not sure about the more recent years, but on the early 2000's boats the swim platform was actually an option. I'd say 9 out of 10 that I see have it, but there are a few out there that don't have one. I personally really like it in the event that you're towing someone on a tube or ski behind the boat or it even just makes getting in and out of the boat that much easier. It's also nice when on my mooring buoy in that I can hop over, stand on the swim platform, take the canvas cover off the cowling, flip the safety lock on the motor and then put the outboard down. Here's a picture I found on Google, of which I assume yours is probably similar in that it has the small swim step and ladder as opposed to the platform that goes all the way across? I believe some don't even have the swim step and just have the outboard transom bracket and nothing else.

 

[Timcan]

Two swim platforms like this one will probably also work. About the helm like others said you could get a custom cover just for the helm. I’m also selling($850) a full enclosure for a seafarer that could work as a cover and also when you are out cruising on the boat.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

I'd say it depends on what the OP currently has, if anything at all, how much he wants to spend and how much it would cost for two swim steps with ladders on them. This one is the entire swim platform for $700.

18" x 84" Starboard Swim Platform in stock | eBay

Starboard Swim Platform made with White 1 1/2" King Starboard. The swim platform is solid starboard 1.5" thick (not two pieces screwed together). You can use basic woodworking tools to cut the swim platform.

www.ebay.com