Grady White Quality
 

After looking at several new Grady-White boats, I noticed they do not
have welded bow rails. Instead, they have allen screws. I thought
all top-quality boats only used welded bow rails?

I also saw plastic thru-hulls on several new Pursuit boats.

Grady White Quality
 

For better or worse, usually worse, this has become a common practice on
many boats. I was advised that the shift to sectional railing was done in
response to consumer demand for a wider product line. The sectionals can be
quickly put together on any boat of the fleet from a stock inventory, while
welded members are unique to each vessel type. I'm not troubled as much by
the sectional rails and I am about shortcutting on mounting hardware and
backing plates. At least GW isn't guilty of this yet!

BTW, for my money a plastic through hull is never acceptable. The price
difference is probably less than $25 per boat, less at wholesale rates.
There's not enough volume in any boat line to warrant this type of shortcut.

James Sloan
Saint Simons Island, GA

After looking at several new Grady-White boats, I noticed they do not
have welded bow rails. Instead, they have allen screws. I thought
all top-quality boats only used welded bow rails?

I also saw plastic thru-hulls on several new Pursuit boats.

Grady White Quality
 

I am headed for the Jacksonville boat show this afternoon. I will let you
know what I "uncover".

Capt Frank


"L. Sikorski" wrote in message
om...
After looking at several new Grady-White boats, I noticed they do not
have welded bow rails. Instead, they have allen screws. I thought
all top-quality boats only used welded bow rails?

I also saw plastic thru-hulls on several new Pursuit boats.

Grady White Quality
 

Capt Frank Hopkins wrote:

I am headed for the Jacksonville boat show this afternoon. I will let you
know what I "uncover".

Capt Frank


"L. Sikorski" wrote in message
om...
After looking at several new Grady-White boats, I noticed they do not
have welded bow rails. Instead, they have allen screws. I thought
all top-quality boats only used welded bow rails?

I also saw plastic thru-hulls on several new Pursuit boats.



Who is the Grady dealer in Jax these days?



--
Email sent to is never read.

Grady White Quality
 

"L. Sikorski" wrote in message
om...
After looking at several new Grady-White boats, I noticed they do not
have welded bow rails. Instead, they have allen screws. I thought
all top-quality boats only used welded bow rails?

I also saw plastic thru-hulls on several new Pursuit boats.

After attending a few recent boat shows, it is my opinion that many boat
builders are lowering the quality of certain components. To put in the best
of the best for each ittem, the cost would be such that many people would be
priced out of the market for the size of boat they are looking for.

This is not to say all builders are cutting costs by using lesser grade
components, but depending on how closely you look, you could always find
something that could be done better.

Remember, there is no perfect boat, just the one that best suits your needs
this time. That is why most all boaters are always looking to sell, trade,
upgrade and/or modify 'something'.

Grady White Quality
 

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
I know where you are going, but my 1987 Grady doesn't have welded
components, either......

Uh.... 2004-1987=17

Come to think of it, I remember our 93 Grady White had the sectional
(non-welded) bow rail setup. It never occurred to me as a problem (vs.
welded), as that rail one very stiff, durable and problem free.

Grady White Quality
 

Grady White Quality
 

FishFan wrote: ".... All of these issues w/ Grady's are well documented here
and other places and none of them are serious problems not found on other
boats. Fixing them is all part of the normal maintenance routine on a 15 year
old boat, although I would have expected the Grady to have less problems then
the Bayliner.
Oh well, at least I have better resale value."

While you may in fact be able to ask more for your '89 Grady than your Dads '89
Bayliner, you must remember that you probably paid better than twice the money
for the Grady in the first place.
I'll bet you two have had fun though the years but I wonder if the Grady
supplied that much more enjoyment.
Best wishes
Mike
'99 2052

Grady White Quality
 

Grady White Quality
 

FishFan, you have a wonderful wife! Mine agreed to my purchasing a new boat in
1999 but said "IF YOU BUY THAT BOAT YOU CAN'T RETIRE". Well here it is 2004,
I'm still happily married, my Bayliner 2052 (named "CAN'T RETIRE") is still
doing all I could want.............
and I'm STILL working for the local phone company. After 34 years. 34 long
years....wish I could retire....!
Best wishes and good fishing!
Mike

FishFan wrote"....My wife insisted on a
full transom, and after going out on a friend's Grady 24, and listening to my
friends wife rave about how "solid and safe they are", my wife made it clear
that she liked the Grady, the 24 not the 20-22 range I was looking at, and
would be willing to pay a little more for one.
I said "If that's what you want dear, thats what I'll buy you" :-)

FishFan

Grady White Quality
 

This is a resend. I don't think my post ever appeared. If you have read this
before, I apologize.

There was a Suzuki 115 4 stroke running in a tank outside. The motor is SO
quiet you can't hear it except for water from the pee hole.

Back from the boat show!.. Boy was I surprised to see all the different
boats. My pick of the show was an Allmond. Picked for quality and
construction. Impeccable workmanship, but very plain. Galley and head badly
underequipped. No generator, and diesels no longer an option. The hardtop
was substantial, and the supporting stainless steel structure was well made,
but brush finished to hide welding errors. The welds were all ground, but
not smooth.

SeaRay's offerings of the 280 and 290 Sundancer were a notch down from what
they used to be. Scrimping on real wood in the cabin, and factory installed
amenities. The hulls were a little thinner and the engines a little less
well installed. Wireing was sloppy, and there was no room on the helm
station for additional navigation electronics. The head, now shrunk down a
bit, was suitable for most of Dorothy's munchkins, but, real people will
have a time squeezing their butts in the tiny door.
I looked at Grady White's offerings and was sorely disappointed. Grady used
to be one of the highest quality boats on the marketplace. Cost cutting and
sloppy workmanship have knocked it off its pedestal. In answer to the
original post, the rails were put together from individual fittings held by
allen screws. I think the fasteners will corrode over time making an
eyesore. The hulls all had ripples, and on at least one boat the rub rails
had popped out of the stern "cover". Wiring was sloppy and not fastened and
covered as in older boats. I understand the warranty specifically excludes
blistering, and Grady will not do anything to correct cold water blisters.
As a former GW owner, I must withdraw my recommendation for the brand.

Bayliner, I went aboard a Cierra 28. The Bayliner remains a Bayliner. The
construction meets NMMA specs. Barely. Filled with a lot of mid-grade
accessory items and no generator. Also underpowered. Workmanship was a
nightmare. IMHO you would be better off with an used "needs work" boat then
to buy a new Bayliner.

Monteray: Not much has changed on the Monteray line, except the prices have
gone up, and "Standard" features have vanished. Now, everything is an extra
cost option from the bimini to the generator to the holding tank.

Boat Tree's offerings were not reviewed as I would not send my worst enemy
to buy a boat there. An evil and dishonest business!

All in all, quality was down throughout the industry. Shoddy materials and
poor workmanship spread itself across the show like a nasty fungus. Smaller
boats were no exception! We should be careful or the domestic boat industry
will end up like the domestic auto industry, with all the best stuff being
built overseas.


It was grim.

Capt. Frank
www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks

Grady White Quality
 

On 10 Feb 2004 15:32:00 -0800, (FishFan) wrote:

I said "If that's what you want dear, thats what I'll buy you" :-)

=================================================

And THAT is how many a boat has been bought. Don't ask me how I know.

:-)

Grady White Quality
 

Grady White Quality
 

Non-welded rails might not be uncommon (although I have seen very few except on
older Trophys) but they have an unrefined look, catch fishing line, and are not
as sturdy as welded rails even when the set screws are new and tight. That's a
terrible place for a manufacturer to save a few bucks. I would rather see a
well-built boat with fewer standard features so you can pay for what you want
and, in some cases, upgrade with aftermarket parts.

Dan


John wrote:


It's not uncommon to find non-welded rails on smaller boats, even
expensive ones.

For above the water thru-hulls, plastic will work fine.

But your correct in your observation, a top dollar boat should be
built with top quality components. Welded bow rails and non-plastic
thru-hulls should be standard equipment on such a boat. It just makes
you think about what else they may have skimped on.