270 da canvas issues.

Rapidroy5858

Rapidroy5858

Member
Sep 23, 2018
82
LaPorte In.
Boat Info
1990 searay sundancer 270
Engines
Twin 4.3 mercruiser
So this 1990 270 da is new to me. purchased from po last Sept, when I bought it all the canvas was in place I removed it for winter, tried to install today and cant get snaps fastened. I discovered two rods that have a button to allow it to collapse or extend.Does anyone know what the purpose of the adjustment rods are? I collapsed the 2 rods to help get snaps fastened but now canvas is so tight I cant slide them back to the position they we originally in.
I plan to buy snap extenders to be able to get all the canvas in place.
Also the top sections of canvas have a vinyl backing on the bottom side, would this be a sunbrella material, will it stretch?
Sorry if this is confusing all help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks from a 1st time owner.
 
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We typically had to release the tension on the supports every time we put our canvas on. It will stretch after it is in the sun. Sunbrella is a fabric, the tops have a waterproof layer added usually.

MM
 
So the adjustment. poles are to be able to allow slack in the canvas to get snaps fastened?
I have canvas in place but cannot get the poles to slide back to the original positions
Thanks
 
Correct. Fasten all snaps, then insert poles to create a “tent” and avoid pooling water.

The snaps are tough without the polls...impossible with them in place.

If you are further than a 1.5” something may not be right. Make sure your bikinis and all are locked in the proper position. If it’s a cockpit cover make sure the wipers are on top of the canvas. Nothing on the seats creating a bump?

I was going to fix the autocorrect, but I like it. “Biminis”
 
If you are taking about the bimini support poles that have the little button to collapse on either side. They can be a handful from time to time to get back to where the top is tensioned properly.

I suggest you get a 2nd person to assist when making that final pull/push to extend.

When I put my front windows in this fall I struggled and eventually had to leave the side curtain windows unzipped from the radar arch to allow the bimini to be tensioned to where the little button was back in its hole. I'll eventually get zipper extenders for the sides to make them connect properly.

Good luck. It is a bit like a puzzle getting all the pieces to fit.

I think that's why some leave all their canvas pieces on all year long.
 
Nothing interfering as far as I can tell. I'm hoping warmer weather here in Indiana will help warm the canvas and help it stretch a bit.
 
You may have to wait till it warms up... like already mentioned, the heat of the sun will help to stretch them out.
 
Great point about the zippers. If there are zippers on the pieces you are trying to snap down start each zipper just a few inches and do the snaps then finish off the zippers.
 
Same issue on mine, just wait for a warm day, and leave them "up" in the sun to stretch.
 
Wet them down too it will help them to relax a little. Years ago when I got my 260DA I swore the camper back would next fit and that the sides and the aft were not the right ones. After a couple of weeks I was able to slowly stretch it out. After that I never had a problem again.

-Kevin
 
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The material on your tops is Seamark by Sunbrella. It will stretch very little and over time shrinks quite a bit. Nice stuff but only lasts 8-10 years because of the shrink factor. We had to get the snap extensions last year on our 310 for the same reason. Canvas is being redone redone this spring with regular Sunbrella.
We previously had a 90' 270 and the adjustable rear supports were a nice feature. Our factory tops gave very little headroom. When we were out and the side curtains were off we could extend the rear so taller people wouldn't have to duck entering the boat from the swim platform. If you ever have it redone go to the arch with new canvas. It was like a new boat after we had it done.
 
Question on the same subject.

Do you give your canvas a good scrub while on the boat or do you remove, lay out on the dock or other surface and scrub there then reinstall?
 
"Normal" position for those poles is in the collapsed position, whether you're using the canvas, or not.

Extend poles. Start front and side zippers a few inches, attach what snaps you can. Collapse poles (pull down on horizontal bimini frame to help). Finish snaps, then zippers. Then do rear canvas pieces (it is a looser fit to begin with).
 
Little Ducky said:
Question on the same subject.

Do you give your canvas a good scrub while on the boat or do you remove, lay out on the dock or other surface and scrub there then reinstall?
Click to expand...
We remove our canvas at the end of the season and give it a good cleaning (we follow the Sunbrella instructions available via a google search) and then treat it with 303 prior to reinstalling it on the boat. To clean it off of the boat, we lay it on a clean tarp. If we notice mildew during the season, we’ll generally remove the Sunbrella canvas and clean it off the boat, retreat it with 303, and put it back on the boat. But we do wash our canvas while it’s on the boat every time we wash the boat - we use Shurhold brushes (either the blue or yellow brush on canvas) with boat soap and then rinse it without letting the solution dry on the Sunbrella. Keeping your canvas clean will help with reducing black/gray grimey streaks on your gelcoat.
Tim
 
Bugsy22 said:
The material on your tops is Seamark by Sunbrella. It will stretch very little and over time shrinks quite a bit. Nice stuff but only lasts 8-10 years because of the shrink factor. We had to get the snap extensions last year on our 310 for the same reason. Canvas is being redone redone this spring with regular Sunbrella.
We previously had a 90' 270 and the adjustable rear supports were a nice feature. Our factory tops gave very little headroom. When we were out and the side curtains were off we could extend the rear so taller people wouldn't have to duck entering the boat from the swim platform. If you ever have it redone go to the arch with new canvas. It was like a new boat after we had it done.
Click to expand...
 
Bugsy22 said:
The material on your tops is Seamark by Sunbrella. It will stretch very little and over time shrinks quite a bit. Nice stuff but only lasts 8-10 years because of the shrink factor. We had to get the snap extensions last year on our 310 for the same reason. Canvas is being redone redone this spring with regular Sunbrella.
We previously had a 90' 270 and the adjustable rear supports were a nice feature. Our factory tops gave very little headroom. When we were out and the side curtains were off we could extend the rear so taller people wouldn't have to duck entering the boat from the swim platform. If you ever have it redone go to the arch with new canvas. It was like a new boat after we had it done.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the reply, I'm hoping between the zipper extenders and snap extenders I can squeeze a few more seasons out of the canvas, no holes or tears.
What's your opinion on the 99 270. ?
 
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