Canvas help needed

Jeff Delbuono · Apr 9, 2019

I have a 1998 sea ray 290 sundancer with the original canvas. ( all in great shape ) it has the camper back that comes off the small canvas that conects to the arch down to the stern. Wanted to this year install the camper top, side curtons and aft curton. ( admiral wants to spend more time out of sun and bugs ). contacted RNR- marine who has the factory OEM templates and was told by my HIN # it has the sunbrella sapphire blue. They said they do not make this color anymore and i need to replace the entire thing. Uhg. Any other companies i can order from or does anybody have the old stuff and willing to sell. Price to re do entire thing vs just what i need was about 75% more. PLEASE HELP

JimG · Apr 9, 2019

If it was a factory option, you may be able to get it from Great Lakes... they made all the original canvas for your boat.
There is a member here that is a dealer that goes by the name KevinC... he will likely chime in. @KevinC

Jeff Delbuono · Apr 9, 2019

Is it great lakes skipper.

JimG · Apr 9, 2019

https://greatlakesboattop.com/

KevinC · Apr 9, 2019

Jeff Delbuono said:
I have a 1998 sea ray 290 sundancer with the original canvas. ( all in great shape ) it has the camper back that comes off the small canvas that conects to the arch down to the stern. Wanted to this year install the camper top, side curtons and aft curton. ( admiral wants to spend more time out of sun and bugs ). contacted RNR- marine who has the factory OEM templates and was told by my HIN # it has the sunbrella sapphire blue. They said they do not make this color anymore and i need to replace the entire thing. Uhg. Any other companies i can order from or does anybody have the old stuff and willing to sell. Price to re do entire thing vs just what i need was about 75% more. PLEASE HELP

@Jeff Delbuono give me a call to discuss. I will need your HIN# and will start the conversation with GLBT on your behalf. I am not sure what is going on as I see Sapphire Blue as an active color option. You can find my info at www.covemarine.com.

Its quite possible they were referring to the camper top. Those may have been originally made with SeaMark (the Sunbrella canvas with a vinyl coating inside) and that may not be available in Sapphire Blue but there is no reason the cover could not be regular Sunbrella and from what I understand Sea Ray does not even spec the SeaMark anymore.

Regardless, give me a call and we can discuss and get to the bottom of this.

-Kevin

Jeff Delbuono · Apr 9, 2019

Kevin. Thank you very much for the help. I will be calling you tomorrow to talk. My HIN #SERT4407F898. What i am looking for is the bimini top and poles that connect to the little bimini off the back arch, camper side curtons and back side curton. I live in NJ and to colar match even willing to send one of the bimini boots to color match.

KevinC · Apr 9, 2019

Jeff Delbuono said:
Kevin. Thank you very much for the help. I will be calling you tomorrow to talk. My HIN #SERT4407F898. What i am looking for is the bimini top and poles that connect to the little bimini off the back arch, camper side curtons and back side curton. I live in NJ and to colar match even willing to send one of the bimini boots to color match.

Sounds good. Would you still have any of the original tags on any of the covers? If these are from great lakes they would have an SO number that can be referenced internally.

-Kevin

Jeff Delbuono · Apr 9, 2019

Kevin, i will look tomorrow when i get home. I know when i looked today at one of the bimini tops it has a sunbrella tag on it. It did look like the roof pieces have the canvas on the outside and the vinyl underneath. Not sure if that helps

tdschafer · Apr 9, 2019

KevinC said:
@Jeff Delbuono give me a call to discuss. I will need your HIN# and will start the conversation with GLBT on your behalf. I am not sure what is going on as I see Sapphire Blue as an active color option. You can find my info at www.covemarine.com.

Its quite possible they were referring to the camper top. Those may have been originally made with SeaMark (the Sunbrella canvas with a vinyl coating inside) and that may not be available in Sapphire Blue but there is no reason the cover could not be regular Sunbrella and from what I understand Sea Ray does not even spec the SeaMark anymore.

Regardless, give me a call and we can discuss and get to the bottom of this.

-Kevin

My bimini is Seamark. My camper top is regular sunbrella. Colors match externally.

Jeff Delbuono · Apr 9, 2019

All my original stuff is in great shape. Had all the Isinglass replaced last year. have everything from 3 bow hatch covers, helm cover and everything on top to a camper style top. Admiral just now wants the back bimini and curtons so at night the bugs dont eat us. ( live in NJ and our national bird is the NO SEE EM ). everything matches and cant see it being to tough to get it done.

Little Ducky · Apr 10, 2019

I would just go custom. I bet a local person can produce a nice canvas package for you with some great options to make it more livable if you want to leave it up all year long.

OEM down falls:
1) when you unzip the windows there's no way to keep them rolled up. I've seen some custom canvas where they built in some keeper straps to keep the unzipped portion up and out of the way.

2) There is no door in the back portion. If you look at the new canvas packages there's aways a door that can be removed or rolled up out of the way so you can leave the rest of the rear canvas in place.

3) The rear portion does not have a window that can be zipped open.

This is the early 1998 290 DA OEM:

Jeff Delbuono · Apr 10, 2019

interesting. I did not know that the aft curton did not have a window that rolled up or a door.

KevinC · Apr 10, 2019

Little Ducky said:
I would just go custom. I bet a local person can produce a nice canvas package for you with some great options to make it more livable if you want to leave it up all year long.

OEM down falls:
1) when you unzip the windows there's no way to keep them rolled up. I've seen some custom canvas where they built in some keeper straps to keep the unzipped portion up and out of the way.

2) There is no door in the back portion. If you look at the new canvas packages there's aways a door that can be removed or rolled up out of the way so you can leave the rest of the rear canvas in place.

3) The rear portion does not have a window that can be zipped open.

This is the early 1998 290 DA OEM:
View attachment 67788

Yes, this is true but all of which most likely can be adjusted for locally and probably for a much lower total cost that would need to include the patterning and production time.

-Kevin

Little Ducky · Apr 10, 2019

Jeff Delbuono said:
interesting. I did not know that the aft curton did not have a window that rolled up or a door.

I though so as well.

I installed these a few weeks ago and was surprised how good they look for being 20 year old. If I keep them installed all year long I might have the local canvas guy modify the rear piece with a screen and a zippered window and add a door.

Jeff Delbuono · Apr 24, 2019

Ducky,
Got a price of $1,800 for the entire camper top kit and thought it was a good price. ( searaycanvas.com ) Guy from the company was awesome and even helped me color match my canvas. tried to go through RNR marine but was told my color, sapphire blue was no longer made for them . before I buy it what is your thoughts on the camper top. ( love it, hate it, dont care ) I feel living in the awesome bug infested state of New Jersey i will get alot of use out of it but the Admiral thinks it might be a pain in the ass to take apart and put back together if the sun is shinning. any thoughts...

JustRight · Apr 24, 2019

I’ve had a camper back since 2013. Frankly I don’t really like how it affects the lines of the boat (or the appearance of the boat). But I love the extra living space on the boat, which is priceless. It’s a trade off, for sure. I can put my camper back in a boot and salvage some of the original styling of the Sundancer. One last thing, my stainless supports are custom, and I have an attachment point on my starboard radar arch; to access my engine compartment and create enough clearance for the engine hatch to swing up and open, I have to temporarily move my aft-most starboard side stainless support to the attachment point on the radar arch.

b_arrington · Apr 24, 2019

Jeff Delbuono said:
Ducky,
Got a price of $1,800 for the entire camper top kit and thought it was a good price. ( searaycanvas.com ) Guy from the company was awesome and even helped me color match my canvas. tried to go through RNR marine but was told my color, sapphire blue was no longer made for them . before I buy it what is your thoughts on the camper top. ( love it, hate it, dont care ) I feel living in the awesome bug infested state of New Jersey i will get alot of use out of it but the Admiral thinks it might be a pain in the ass to take apart and put back together if the sun is shinning. any thoughts...

Love my camper back. It totally changed how we used the boat, and was key for expanding it's utility. As our kids gew it's what made the boat useful. Made it much better for sleeping out, provided shade for the hottest days, and helps with those summer showers.

Our screens are permanently mounted to the canvas, and the windows roll up and are secured with a strap. Often though I will remove the back piece and just roll up the side pieces and tuck them in place behind metal supports. My Admiral initially had thought she would want me to take the top down all the time. But with the extra shade and rolling the side, she was happy with it in place. Once or twice a season I would take the down the sides, unzip the camper from the bimini, and wrap it around the frame. Takes a few minutes, but not a big deal. It I were to do it again I would have the screens installed with zippers so we could roll them up or remove the screen entirely.

We also had custom blackout curtains made from matching Sunbrella for all the interior windows. They attach via velcro that's sewn into the windows. This really helps with privacy when overnighting.

Here are some pics of our setup, both up and down.