Camper canvas in cold weather, OK or not??

Dave M.

New Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 9, 2006
874
Hermiston, OR
Boat Info
270 DA
Engines
7.4L, Bravo II
I just put the camper canvas up on the boat, which is in my shop. I have it heated to about 50 degrees. It was pretty tight, but I expected that. I can make it from here to the boat launch without taking it down if I just drive slow and take the right route. It is only about 4 miles. So my plan was to be able to go out, with the top already up, when the weather is in the 30's or 40's.

But now I am wondering if maybe this is too cold for the camper canvas. Will I be stretching it too tight at those temperatures, and damage it, or is it made to be used in colder weather. I know this is not cold to you Minnesota and MI guys, but I don't want to do damage from ignorance.

The camper canvas is the standard sunbrella one that comes with the boat. Any comments appreciated!
 
I have camper canvas up on mine and have already been out in 50 degree weather. If it's a sunny day, it will still be warm in the cockpit too. That 50 degree day gave us mid 70s temps in the cockpit. I really wouldn't worry about running in colder weather. My owners manual just says don't exceed 45 mph. The canvas and Isenglass are no different than a convertible top on a car and convertibles are run in all kinds of weather including sub zero temperatures.
 
Reflection's canvas is on year round. Has held up for nearly six years. Keep the isenglass clean and treated, same with the canvas itself. I wash the whole boat at a minimum of once a month, even in the winter. (Yeah, I'm the nut job out there in the pouring rain WASHING the boat) - but we moor her in an industrial area so it's critical to keep the fallout to a minimum.
 
Dave,

The canvas and Eisenglass will be ok in colder temperatures. However, the Eisenglass is quite a bit less pliable when it is cold, so beware of any kinks in the plastic. When it is nice and warm it is quite a bit more forgiving. As to the canvas/Eisenglass "shrinking" in cold temperatures - speaking from my own experience I would certainly agree that they do. But I don't know if there is any scientific basis for that one. :smt017 I do know that fighting with freezing cold snaps and other metal hardware when trying to put up the canvas in the winter can be a VERY frustrating and demoralizing experience! :smt013 What I learned from my canvas shop is that undoing portions of the canvas frame to fasten the snaps is VERY helpfull. Also, keeping zippers only partway closed until the last of the snaps is fastened can help. But from my personel experience with my old canvas I would advise against the latter. Trying to zip up a top canvas zipper when all the bottom snaps are in place puts a tremendous amount of strain on the point of the zipper closure. I tore out a couple of the zippers on my old canvas in that fashion. :smt013

Good luck and "warm" boating to you!

GG
 
I just installed the camper canvas on my 220SD. Charley helped me out and it took the two of us to stretch it but we got it on. Temps outside were in mid 50's and inside 60's or so. Just getting out of the wind makes a tremendous difference.
 
Thanks you guys for your replies. Guess I can continue on with plan A!

I do have one zipper that needs the end sewn. It came that way last year from Great Lakes Boat Tops, I replaced the top rear section. Also have one snap that needs replaced. So far, my local upholstery shop has fixed all my minor needs, mostly zippers needing resewn, for free.

I really should get these done before I use the boat much with the top up.
 
We boat in April when the temps sometimes fall into the high 20's. This appears to have little effect on the Sunbrella, although the snaps are somewhat harder to snap.
 
sbw1 said:
We boat in April when the temps sometimes fall into the high 20's. This appears to have little effect on the Sunbrella, although the snaps are somewhat harder to snap.

High 20's?? That's when it's time to go ski or ice skate! By April we'll see temps in the mid 60's and an occasional day in the 70's if we're lucky. Gotta love California (at least for the boating....). :cool:

GG
 
sbw1 said:
We boat in April when the temps sometimes fall into the high 20's. This appears to have little effect on the Sunbrella, although the snaps are somewhat harder to snap.

That does it, the top is staying on! Also answers my question about whether I need to keep the shop any warmer because the top is on. I think not, now. I can put the thermostat back at 40 and not worry about it.

Better ignore GG and those nasty weather comments. We all know California is going to slide off into the sea one of these days. He better hope his boat and life jackets are near. :grin:
 
i guess we've all experienced some "shrinkage" in cold conditions...with our canvas, i mean. :grin:
 
Dave M. said:
Better ignore GG and those nasty weather comments. We all know California is going to slide off into the sea one of these days. He better hope his boat and life jackets are near. :grin:

According to FEMA, Sacramento is the second-most at risk major metropolitain area in the States for flooding, right behind New Orleans! We've got 2 major rivers running through downtown and have levees protecting us from flooding that don't meet 100-yr certification. If one of these breaks or overtops we have areas downtown that will flood to a depth of 20 feet. :smt009 So your comment about having the boat at the house during "the big one" is not that far off!

Enjoy your canvas, but be careful with the CO poisining due to the station wagon effect (I just read the article in US Boating last night...).

GG
 
I put a CO detector in my cockpit. Depending on how the canvas is open for ventilation, I can see the CO levels do climb a bit. That's been a good education for me as I now know a bit better what I should and shouldn't do while underway. It provides a measure of safety that I wouldn't want to be without.
 
CO detector in the cockpit is a smart idea.
 
gengiant said:
Dave S,

Where in the cockpit did you mount the CO alarm (i was thinking of doing the same)?

I bought a battery powered unit at WalMart and I just set it inside my grab handle for the port side lounge seat. It fits perfectly and is pretty much out of the way but I can still see the CO reading when I look over at it so I can keep an eye on things. I can also easily remove it as well since it's not permanently attached. I think there are smaller units available that you might be able to mount somewhere on your boat but in my opinion you need to get one with a CO readout so you can keep an eye on the readings so if the levels start to rise you can do something about it before they get to a point where the alarm goes off.
 
Dave S said:
I put a CO detector in my cockpit. Depending on how the canvas is open for ventilation, I can see the CO levels do climb a bit. That's been a good education for me as I now know a bit better what I should and shouldn't do while underway. It provides a measure of safety that I wouldn't want to be without.

I think that should qualify you for the "hot tip of the day" prize! Just check with the moderators to collect your prize. I went to WM and got me one. Now I HAVE to take the boat out and see if it works, and what the results are. It will be interesting to see. AFAIK, my boat has no other CO detector, so one is long overdue.
 
gengiant said:
Wesley is just jealous that his boat doesn't allow for a full camper canvas! :smt043
Now that can't be right! There has to be a way, if there's a will. Even my old Glasspar used to have a full camper canvas. Somewhere along the way it seems to have fell by the wayside, and I don't have it anymore. :smt089

But that old 17.5 ft boat did have room to lay out air mattresses and sleeping bags, and you could sleep in it. And we did.
 
oh it can be done take a look at midway's boat. :smt018 I just can't talk the wife into it, she keeps saying that if I wanted a camper I should have bought that instead of a boat and (my favorite) if it is cold enough for that she will not be taking part in the trip anyway. :huh:

Wesley
 

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