Canvassing Questions

RPearson

New Member
Mar 20, 2011
13
Virginia
Boat Info
Sundancer 420 2003
Engines
Cummins Diamond 450hp X 2
Hey All!

I am searching for recommendations regarding finding ANYONE that carries canvas (stock) for my 2003 420DA. Please let me know if this can be purchased anywhere or am I doomed to local companies to reconstruct.

Regards
 
I'm assuming you've contacted Great Lakes Boat Top? They were the OE supplier/manufacturer of canvas for most sea rays. With your HIN# they can recreate the factory canvas using the original patterns.

Just to clarify, they don't "stock" items, but make them to order using the original patterns.
 
Last edited:
I'm not sure that Great Lakes made them for the larger sport yachts. I tried to order from them and they said they did not make the canvas for my '98 400. That being said, I am in Atlanta with limited options and have found wildly varying pricing from company to company. I just had all my eisenglass upgraded, replaced and had a much larger rear curtain window put in and it was only $600. What do you need done?
 
tiara in the snow 01.JPG
A qualified local vendor is the way to go. There is no good way to fit canvas through the mail or over the Internet. The snaps require fine tuning.
 
Cocktail is right - Great Lakes only makes them for the smaller boats. I'm not 100% positive, but I think that Sea Ray made the canvas in-house for the larger ones.

Either way, you are definitely not "doomed" to get it done locally. A good local shop will do as good, or often better, then original canvas. Plus, you can change it up, if needed, to better suit your needs.
 
'round these parts if you haven't already made arrangements for your local canvas guy to do your work this winter/spring you're definitely "doomed" to not have new canvas for the 2019 season.

It's amazing to me how far out the local guys are booked. At least the good ones. Mega big money too. You can replace a gas engine for less than new canvas :)
 
Great Lakes does a great job but they only handle up to 340s (we use them regularly). Above that size there are a few suppliers that may or may not have the original templates on hand (you may need to supply from templates that were stored on the boat). Even worse some model were done internally and the templates are no longer available.

Depending on what you need a good shop should be able to fabricate something for you but there can be a lot options available.

-Kevin
(www.covemarine.com)
 
Cocktail is right - Great Lakes only makes them for the smaller boats. I'm not 100% positive, but I think that Sea Ray made the canvas in-house for the larger ones.

Either way, you are definitely not "doomed" to get it done locally. A good local shop will do as good, or often better, then original canvas. Plus, you can change it up, if needed, to better suit your needs.

Sea Ray did not make Sport Yacht and Yacht canvas in house (at least for later models). I will have to look for the contact info but Sea Ray used a company somewhere in northern Florida IIRC. Sea Ray Customer service gave me the contact info. I'm sure they can give it to you too if I can't find it.
 
Cocktail is right - Great Lakes only makes them for the smaller boats. I'm not 100% positive, but I think that Sea Ray made the canvas in-house for the larger ones.

Either way, you are definitely not "doomed" to get it done locally. A good local shop will do as good, or often better, then original canvas. Plus, you can change it up, if needed, to better suit your needs.

Gioia Sails made canvas for the bigger boats. That is where mine came from and when we were shopping, they also made them for the 420DBs.

I contacted them about one particular boat we looked at and they said to look under the starboard side bunk and to find the prints....needless to say, the alleged prints were long gone.

Bennett
 
Local canvas folks (good ones) are the way to go.
They give you many options to make the canvas better given their experience on what works well and what your ideas are.
 
Local canvas folks (good ones) are the way to go.
They give you many options to make the canvas better given their experience on what works well and what your ideas are.

Do not take the 1st or the lowest...(unless due diligence is done) Get references, go see the work done on other boats. Canvas is a big investment and you'll live with it every day you are on the boat. You want to smile when see it not bitch about how the guy F***ed you !
 
I'm assuming you've contacted Great Lakes Boat Top? They were the OE supplier/manufacturer of canvas for most sea rays. With your HIN# they can recreate the factory canvas using the original patterns.

Just to clarify, they don't "stock" items, but make them to order using the original patterns.
I'm assuming you've contacted Great Lakes Boat Top? They were the OE supplier/manufacturer of canvas for most sea rays. With your HIN# they can recreate the factory canvas using the original patterns.

Just to clarify, they don't "stock" items, but make them to order using the original patterns.



Sadly they only go to the 320 da...Thanks however.!!
 
Go back and read what sbw1 and others wrote. Getting canvas done locally is the only way to go. You can sit down with the canvas maker to discuss how you want things done, any changes from what the factory did, etc. IMHO that is worth a LOT.
 
If you really want to try to have the same place that made the originals make the replacement canvas, then maybe reach out to Sea Ray customer service and they might be able to tell you who did the canvas work for the plant that your boat was made in.
But as others have said, you’ll probably get a much nicer job from a local shop at probably a lower price.
It’s would also be a good time to have an experienced local guy make changes to it that best suit your needs.
I could probably come up with a half dozen slight modifications that would make my canvas a bit more user friendly for me.
 
I bought a full set of canvas and plastic for my 340da 2 years ago from Great Lakes so they do make it it for the 340. I had a little fitment Problem on mine and had to have my local guy fix it a bit but even with that it was much cheaper from Great Lakes than what the local quote I got was.
 
I bought a full set of canvas and plastic for my 340da 2 years ago from Great Lakes so they do make it it for the 340. I had a little fitment Problem on mine and had to have my local guy fix it a bit but even with that it was much cheaper from Great Lakes than what the local quote I got was.

While this does not affect the OP I just wanted to follow up on this.

Great Lakes makes a very nice product and will stand behind their products if they have the HIN# match. I have even had them send out items to assist customers with problems after the sale at their own expense. Regarding the 340SDA that is the largest that they go up to and they also make specific canvas for the aluminum and stainless windshields.

While in the past they limited your choice of materials you now can choose from almost all the Sunbrella colors and they also will allow you to choose Seamark or Sunbrella for the covers when available.

One of the nice things about buying from them is the time to production and delivery. Off peak I generally see under 10 days to shipment. Even if we were fabricating ourselves I would be lucky to be able to get the initial template done in that time and you don't have to sacrifice your canvas while it is being produced.

If any one is interested in a quote from Great Lakes or has any questions please feel free to PM, email or call me. As both a CSR member and site sponsor (see our banner ad) I will help to make your experience the best it can be and we offer discounts to all members so there is no need to wait for a sale.

-Kevin
(www.covemarine.com)
 
Great Lakes does a great job but they only handle up to 340s (we use them regularly). Above that size there are a few suppliers that may or may not have the original templates on hand (you may need to supply from templates that were stored on the boat). Even worse some model were done internally and the templates are no longer available.

Depending on what you need a good shop should be able to fabricate something for you but there can be a lot options available.

-Kevin
(www.covemarine.com)

Kevin, do you do EZ2CY work?
 
Hey All!

I am searching for recommendations regarding finding ANYONE that carries canvas (stock) for my 2003 420DA. Please let me know if this can be purchased anywhere or am I doomed to local companies to reconstruct.

Regards
Looks like you are in N. Virginia. We were very pleased with Renegade Canvas in Woodbridge and the work Chris did on our 320. He created and installed a custom camper top with a cantilever design for a 320. It was not inexpensive but the quality was excellent and the Admiral was thrilled.

I used Great Lakes in the past and got a quote for the 320. Their price was close to what Renegade quoted me for a factory-style replacement. In the end we went with Renegade because we wanted a custom design.
 
I’m getting all new canvas done this winter for my 420DA from a local shop, got in line back in September.
I hate canvas !!
 
I'm not sure that Great Lakes made them for the larger sport yachts. I tried to order from them and they said they did not make the canvas for my '98 400. That being said, I am in Atlanta with limited options and have found wildly varying pricing from company to company. I just had all my eisenglass upgraded, replaced and had a much larger rear curtain window put in and it was only $600. What do you need done?
My boat is currently in Atlanta getting camper canvas and a new cockpit cover. Send me a PM and I will provide you with the information of the person doing mine.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,946
Messages
1,422,757
Members
60,929
Latest member
Henchman
Back
Top