2000 290 SunDancer Camper Canvas FIGHT

[Rob Armstrong]

Hi All,
Bought a new to us 2000 290SD last year and spent most all of last season sorting out bugs here and there, mostly engine related. Now this season we should hopefully be able to enjoy it a little before we swap for something different next season
So, the boat came with a brand new camper canvas setup still in the package when we got it.....I did spend a lot of time and money refitting the canvas with some new pieces up front etc. The rear bimini top appears to be original but in great condition....here's the problem, when I install the camper canvas, the snaps along the bottom are WAY far off. If I really pull to the point of almost tearing things, I can get some of the snaps to lock in....but then they fly off with any movement at all. First thing I want to do is convert them to the twist lock style fastener, but that doesn't solve the too short problem. It really seems like the whole bimini should drop down about 2"-3" to make everything fit properly. There are 3 push button locations on the rear arms and they are currently on the middle hole....it seems like if I could drop it down the the bottom hole the camper canvas would snap in easily at the bottom.....BUT there is so much tension on the top section of the bimini I can't get it to move to that hole no matter how hard I try....it seems like its too short on the top where it connects to the fly canvas at the arch.
Is it just a matter of the old bimini shrinking and being too tight to drop the bows or am I completely missing something. It doesn't seem like this should be that difficult.....what am I doing wrong?
Thank you,
Rob

 

[Espos4]

Did you try folding up the bimini to take the tension off the poles, then adjust the holes?

 

[Ididntdoit]

Shrinkage......some people use the hokey zipper extenders to get more life out of it......Canvas Sucks

 

[Rob Armstrong]

Yes, we did fold up the bimini which allowed us to goto the bottom hole....the only problem then is in order to get that rear leg back into the bracket I feel like I'm going to rip the canvas in half with the amount of pressure I have to apply. AGREED with Ididntdoit, CANVAS SUCKS!! That's why the next boat is going to have very minimal canvas....HARD TOP all the way baby!

 

[KevinC]

Yes, we did fold up the bimini which allowed us to goto the bottom hole....the only problem then is in order to get that rear leg back into the bracket I feel like I'm going to rip the canvas in half with the amount of pressure I have to apply. AGREED with Ididntdoit, CANVAS SUCKS!! That's why the next boat is going to have very minimal canvas....HARD TOP all the way baby!

When I got my 260DA years ago I had a similar situation when fitting the camper canvas. Initially I swore it was the wrong canvas. Here is what I learned from my adventure.

The canvas can stretch quite a bit. Best to do when warm and wet down. You may want to invest in a Top Snapper tool like this one on Amazon. This tool will allow you to hook onto the snap cap and exert some pressure. The key was working the canvas one snap at a time over an extended period of time. Think in terms of a couple of weeks. Once I was able to get them all to fit I was easily able to snap them by hand for the remaining time I owned the boat.

Personally I would not switch over to the twist type and expect that to help - but that is a personal preference.

You also mentioned that this camper canvas was all new in the packaging. Do you know if this canvas ever fit? It is possible that a previous owner added a custom camper and a later owner ordered Factory canvas from Great Lakes and it never fit on the custom frames and that is why it was still in the packaging.

Let me know if you have other questions.

-Kevin

 

[Lazy Daze]

Hi All,
Bought a new to us 2000 290SD
Rob

Is this a Sundeck (SD) or Sundancer (DA)? I'll assume DA, for now.

If I read correctly, your only issue is the rear-most canvas piece - the "aft" curtain that you would walk through? Typically, that's the easiest one to attach and there isn't really much tension on that one.

Are you sure the piece coming off the arch is adjusted correctly? Some of them also have adjustable legs.

How are you trying to collapse the rear-most bimini leg? If you're just pulling/pushing on the leg/pole, it't hard to get enough "oomph" to get to the last hole. Hold the button in and grab the rear corner of the horizontal section of the bimini - you'll get more power there.

But, yes, sometimes they shrink over the years - you can try soaking it in water for a couple hours and then immediately try reinstall... BEFORE it dries. Or, google for "boat snap extenders"... or just make them yourself out of black, nylon webbing... or a beam-width section of matching canvas.

 

[Rob Armstrong]

(It's a Sundancer BTW) Both really good inputs...thank you all. The only way I can get the rear bimini down to the bottom hole is to unclip it from the rear most brackets then adjust....then try to stretch the bimini enough to put the pins back in those brackets. The only reason I was thinking about doing a few twist locks is because the snaps along the back POP off with the smallest movement like opening the side zipper to walk in.
I am NOT 100% sure that it's the correct camper canvas....and I know it was never installed because I had to install the snaps along the bottom to attach to the hull. I guess there isn't anything simple that I'm missing so I will just modify it to get it to fit nicely and not be a major PITA! sorta like I did on the windshield isenglass.....if anyone knows how miserable the factory hard rubber molding that comes on the soft glass and is supposed to "snap" into the channel in the windshield frame...that is the most frustrating thing on a 20 year old boat....I had my canvas guy yank that off and install a simple two inches of extra fabric around the bottom and I installed the twist lock fasteners all around and OMG what a difference.....it goes on and off so easily now.

 

[Lazy Daze]

That front, rubber molding... I've had that on a few of my own boats and, in my line of work, I've seen many, many of these. You just have to know the trick - once you know that, it goes in as fast as snaps and ends up giving a better look and a better seal. I have never found a rubber molding that didn't work well... with the "trick".

 

[KevinC]

...and I know it was never installed because I had to install the snaps along the bottom to attach to the hull...

Maybe I am missing something here but how exactly did you install the snap caps if the canvas did not reach the studs that were installed in the fiberglass?

-Kevin