28/08/2026
A QUICK WORD ABOUT ESTIMATES, QUOTES & QUALITY
We recently had someone approach us for an estimate on some work and, after receiving it, tell us we were far too expensive.
And that’s okay, we know we’re not going to be the right fit for everyone.
But it did make us think it was worth explaining how we do things at Ray’s Canvas & Marine.
Firstly, an estimate is exactly that, an estimate.
Marine trimming isn’t always something we can accurately price from a photo, a phone call or a description. Boats are different. Frames are different. Access is different. Existing work is different. And because much of what we make is custom-built specifically for your boat, sometimes we need the boat in front of us before we can give you a firm quote.
When we DO provide a quote, that is the maximum you’ll pay for the quoted work. If we finish it quicker or it costs us less than expected, we charge you less.
The same applies to an estimate.
If we estimate 3 hours and it takes us 1, you’re paying for 1. We don't turn around and charge you for 3 just because that's what we originally allowed.
That might sound like a strange thing for a business to openly say, but Ray and Karren have always operated Ray’s Canvas & Marine the old-fashioned way:
Charge fairly for the work you actually do.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
We’re not the cheapest marine trimmer around, and we certainly aren't the most expensive either.
What we are proud of is the quality of the work that leaves our workshop.
We use quality materials backed by serious warranties, including fabric with a 10-year warranty and thread with a 15-year warranty. More importantly, we have work out there that has lasted more than 20 years, literally. We don't just say that either; we have the photos and customers to prove it. If you need some reassurance on that claim, ask in the comments to see our customers photo's directly from them over the years.
There are cheaper, generic biminis and off-the-shelf solutions available, and for some people they are absolutely the right choice. If that's what suits your budget or what you need from the boat, we're more than happy to point you in the right direction.
But that's not what we build.
Our work is made to fit YOUR boat. Your dimensions. Your setup. Your requirements.
People sometimes ask why we don't simply have a set price for a bimini, canopy or other common job.
The answer is simple: because to guarantee we never lose money on a set price, we'd have to build enough extra margin into every job to cover the worst-case scenario.
That would mean overcharging plenty of customers.
We don't believe that's fair.
So we'll continue doing things the way Ray and Karren have always done them, quality materials, custom workmanship, honest pricing and charging what the job actually takes.
You absolutely can find cheaper.
But if you're looking for something made properly, made specifically for your boat and made with the intention of still doing its job many years from now, that's where we come in.
Ray’s Canvas & Marine
Old-school service. Honest pricing. Quality that lasts.
