Canvas track insert

[tmth]

Does anyone know of some kind of insert I could put in my windshield canvas track that I could screw the snaps into. I am ordering new canvas and would prefer regular snaps on the windshield but I do not want to have to drill into my windshield.

 

[Chris Nowell]

Does anyone know of some kind of insert I could put in my windshield canvas track that I could screw the snaps into. I am ordering new canvas and would prefer regular snaps on the windshield but I do not want to have to drill into my windshield.

Aha, just saw them on the Taylormade site while looking for something else. Ya might have to order them through a Sea Ray dealer though. Donna at TM told me that they can't sell to the final user, only to the dealer.
http://www.taylormadeproducts.com/catalog/ Click on "Hatches and windshield accessories" and then click on "Windshield male snap adapter". Good luck, and please let me know how this works out for you. I've had scads of help and advice on that "rubber in the track" system from many folks on this site and I still curse the engineer who designed it every time I have to put the front part of my top back on,,,, especially during a storm.:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021 There, now I feel better.

 

[lawndoctor]

Depends on your windshield.

If your boat is around 2002 or newer, the track in the frame is about 1/2" deep and the clips sold by Taylor will fit.

If you have an older model, the track is about 1/4" deep and those clips won't work. In that case, you have to make your own. I am in that process now. I could probably do it myself, but I decided to have a shop make inserts out of King Starboard using a CNC router. I can share the plans and the shop's contact info when they're done, if you're interested. Probably in another month or so.

There are a bunch of posts about this problem on this site. You can find them by searching for "Vadney," the name of the Taylor employee who invented the clips and assigned his patents to Taylor.

 

[Cod Father]

I've tried them and they don't work!!

 

[MonacoMike]

I've had scads of help and advice on that "rubber in the track" system from many folks on this site and I still curse the engineer who designed it every time I have to put the front part of my top back on,,,, especially during a storm.:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021:smt021 There, now I feel better.

I still do not get the problems folks have with the rubber track connections. Mine just start and work your way down, some pieces just require running your hand along it to push it in the track. I was in a friends boat in rough water and the spray was coming in on me in the cockpit under the snaps of his isinglass. The rubber track keeps seals tight. I have put it on in in pretty rough seas on Lake Michigan in the past, where just hanging on the bow was a challenge.

Are they hard to put in the track when not on the frame? Mine go on with the same effort on or off the frame.

I would like a snap at the edges of my center front piece though for a tighter fit.

MM

 

[AllTideUp]

I also have this on my 2001 340. I've been debating whether or not to convert to snaps. When I put mine in, I only zip a couple inches of the zipper connecting the eisenglass to the bimini, put the rubber in the track for the bottom, then finish the zippers from inside. Haven't really had a problem doing it this way.

Now the front canvas would be easier to roll for storage without that rubber fitting though.

J

 

[SCFinch]

The Vadney clips will work with the deep track, if you have the shallow track someone does make a similar product without going custom. When I had my canvas redone last year the shop that did it used a white clip to fit into the groove of the windshield, no drilling required. I have yet to find them on the web but they are installed on the boat!

 

[electricaldoctor]

I purchased all new rubber trims from Taylor 2 years ago. Go on their website to select the correct profiles and call them. they will gladly take your boat bucks.

 

[Chris Nowell]

Just a friendly reminder that lawndoctor has helped solve the conversion from rubber to snaps on a thread in "General" entitled "Vadney clips on pre 2002 TM windshield". Dennis has some good info that has actually convinced me to give the rubber another chance. Previously there have been a couple of simple but imperative steps that I've been missing. Good luck everyone, including me:thumbsup: