diff --git a/tailbone/grids/core.py b/tailbone/grids/core.py
index eada1041..92452b31 100644
--- a/tailbone/grids/core.py
+++ b/tailbone/grids/core.py
@@ -200,7 +200,6 @@ class Grid(WuttaGrid):
             filterable=False,
             filters={},
             use_byte_string_filters=False,
-            searchable={},
             checkboxes=False,
             checked=None,
             check_handler=None,
@@ -254,6 +253,12 @@ class Grid(WuttaGrid):
                           DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
             kwargs.setdefault('page', kwargs.pop('default_page'))
 
+        if 'searchable' in kwargs:
+            warnings.warn("searchable param is deprecated for Grid(); "
+                          "please use searchable_columns param instead",
+                          DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
+            kwargs.setdefault('searchable_columns', kwargs.pop('searchable'))
+
         # TODO: this should not be needed once all templates correctly
         # reference grid.vue_component etc.
         kwargs.setdefault('vue_tagname', 'tailbone-grid')
@@ -287,8 +292,6 @@ class Grid(WuttaGrid):
         self.use_byte_string_filters = use_byte_string_filters
         self.filters = self.make_filters(filters)
 
-        self.searchable = searchable or {}
-
         self.checkboxes = checkboxes
         self.checked = checked
         if self.checked is None:
@@ -481,15 +484,6 @@ class Grid(WuttaGrid):
                 kwargs['label'] = self.labels[key]
             self.filters[key] = self.make_filter(key, *args, **kwargs)
 
-    def set_searchable(self, key, searchable=True):
-        if searchable:
-            self.searchable[key] = True
-        else:
-            self.searchable.pop(key, None)
-
-    def is_searchable(self, key):
-        return self.searchable.get(key, False)
-
     def remove_filter(self, key):
         self.filters.pop(key, None)
 
@@ -1587,6 +1581,7 @@ class Grid(WuttaGrid):
                 'field': name,
                 'label': self.get_label(name),
                 'sortable': self.is_sortable(name),
+                'searchable': self.is_searchable(name),
                 'visible': name not in self.invisible,
             })
         return columns
diff --git a/tailbone/templates/grids/complete.mako b/tailbone/templates/grids/complete.mako
index 5d406512..54ad0527 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/grids/complete.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/grids/complete.mako
@@ -136,10 +136,8 @@
           <${b}-table-column field="${column['field']}"
                           label="${column['label']}"
                           v-slot="props"
-                          :sortable="${json.dumps(column.get('sortable', False))}"
-                          % if hasattr(grid, 'is_searchable') and grid.is_searchable(column['field']):
-                          searchable
-                          % endif
+                          :sortable="${json.dumps(column.get('sortable', False))|n}"
+                          :searchable="${json.dumps(column.get('searchable', False))|n}"
                           cell-class="c_${column['field']}"
                           :visible="${json.dumps(column.get('visible', True))}">
             % if hasattr(grid, 'raw_renderers') and column['field'] in grid.raw_renderers:
diff --git a/tests/grids/test_core.py b/tests/grids/test_core.py
index c621627a..5169e599 100644
--- a/tests/grids/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/grids/test_core.py
@@ -57,6 +57,12 @@ class TestGrid(WebTestCase):
         grid = self.make_grid(default_page=42)
         self.assertEqual(grid.page, 42)
 
+        # searchable
+        grid = self.make_grid()
+        self.assertEqual(grid.searchable_columns, set())
+        grid = self.make_grid(searchable={'foo': True})
+        self.assertEqual(grid.searchable_columns, {'foo'})
+
     def test_vue_tagname(self):
 
         # default