265 express

I'm considering adding a windlass to my 265 express. I have no experience with a windlass. Always had a smaller boat. I've used a capstan on a destroyer but that doesn't help me here... Looking at Lewmar ProFish 700, H700 or V700. ProFish seems ideal with the FreeFall, H700 is same thing...

So I'm thinking of adding autopilot to my 265 Express. It has manual Seastar 1.7cu in Tilt helm. I would need to add power assist pump which I'm seeing as $1800...can that be right? For autopilot I see I would also need an autopilot pump at $400. And I would still need an autopilot from garmin...

Port engine cable bundle was rubbing on the threaded steering crossbar when the motor was raised/lowered. There was no cable cover, just a zip-tied bundle of wires/cables/fuel line. I kept saying "I should do something about that"....I didn't....I still have in my head that I want new 4 strokes...

Some things I've been doing... Removed rusty fridge that I was never going to use. My brother had some left over mahogany. Made a door frame and added a plexiglass door. There is a floor in there made of pvc board. Very disappointed with the OE rod storage in the cabin. Put some rod...

Here's a rough idea of what I'm trying to do. I want to be able to switch on batteries without opening hatches and removing bins on both sides of the boat. Both starting batteries on port side and doubled house batteries on stbd side. Utilizing existing switches for emergency combining. There...

So, finally started getting some things done. Have been rewiring some things, adding a gps/ff, some new deck lights... My wiper was removed by PO. Don't care because they are useless on a 265. So I want to use the switch for some new spreader lights. But, I want to replace the SPST lighted...

Anybody have a sidescan sonar with a transom mounted transducer? Does outboard(s) motor interfere with sidescan? I'm looking to put a secondary sonar on my Grady 265. Looking at Garmin 94sv. Going with Garmin because boat already has a 4208 (with a garmin24 Sonar unit and Airmar trhu Hull...

New member, new boat. Moved up from an '84 Wellcraft V20 that I ran for 18 years. I wanted to go bigger. Really loved the 265 express layout. Working thru some bugs... 1 cracked thermostat housing dribble 1 oil tank pump wouldn't fill the little tank Now having charging issues. one battery...

Now that I've figured out how to resize and post photos I thought I'd share a few from some of the off-season projects on my 265 over the last two winters. A lot of the work was wiring and is out of sight but it was a rat's nest under the dash and in the electronics boxes. I now know and have...

The inboard side of my transom gate is missing one of the little rubber bumpers that contact the deck when in the down position. Have come up empty at every place I've looked so far. Anyone have a suggestion on where I could go to get a replacement? Thanks. Brett

I've been looking at the 265 Express for quite some time now as it looks to fit my requirements better than anything else and have really appreciated all the discussion on this board thus far. I have a question though that I haven't seen raised before and am looking for some input from 265...