Do canvas snaps wear out?

[Pack66Dad]

Since I got the new pieces for my canvas I have noticed a couple of the snaps on the older pieces seem to always come un-snapped. Do the button snaps on the canvas actually wear out? :huh:

 

[RollerCoastr]

yep!

 

[The Bill Collector]

Hey Chris, yes they do. I bought a vise grip type tool that is retro fitted to press the new snaps into place and I carry lots of spares.....

 

[Pack66Dad]

Hey Chris, yes they do. I bought a vise grip type tool that is retro fitted to press the new snaps into place and I carry lots of spares.....

crap!

So how do I get the old worn-out buttons off the canvas, drill them out?

 

[The Bill Collector]

crap!

So how do i get the old worn-out buttons off the canvas, drill them out?

yep !

 

[sbw1]

Depends on what you buy. The cheap ones made with soft studs fail when pressure from wind and weather cause the snaps to pull out. I've not had any wear related snap failures in six seasons with the current canvas that came with the boat. It has very heavy duty nylon webbing for reinforcement and stainless steel snaps. I bought a cheap piece of canvas for storing the boat and protecting the cockpit and some of those snaps have failed because the local guy use webbing that was not as robost as that provided by Tiara.

 

[Pack66Dad]

yep !

ugh.... that sounds dangerous...... if I do it.

The Admiral has banned me from using power tools on the boat. :smt018

I am still recovering from the stitches in my thumb that ended my last attempt at DIY boat repair. :smt009

 

[Henry Boyd]

The snaps are two piece; the outer button cap, and the inner snap. The button cap has a stem that goes through a hole in the inside piece. If you are careful you can use a pair of dikes to bend up the snap and pull it off of the stem.

In replacing the snaps buy good quality (definitely NOT the West Marine DIY kit). You also need to buy a good tool to squish the stem properly.

Better yet, take the canvas to a good canvas shop. They can replace the snaps for short money, and will have good stuff on hand. When I had the the front three pieces re-glassed with strataglass this summer, the shop re-did the snaps for something like $ 20 additional.

Henry

 

[jason78]

Quality snaps can be obtained from Great Lakes for Next to nothing. If you ask, they will send them regular US mail for about $1. I ordered a couple dozen. They also sell a snap tool that is like a modified pair of vise-grips that works like a charm. This was about $45 but worth every penny, IMO.

I tried the West Marine snap and tool kit first- big mistake.

 

[Pack66Dad]

Depends on what you buy. The cheap ones made with soft studs fail when pressure from wind and weather cause the snaps to pull out. I've not had any wear related snap failures in six seasons with the current canvas that came with the boat. It has very heavy duty nylon webbing for reinforcement and stainless steel snaps. I bought a cheap piece of canvas for storing the boat and protecting the cockpit and some of those snaps have failed because the local guy use webbing that was not as robost as that provided by Tiara.

The snaps that are failing are on the parts of the canvas that came with the boat when I bought it.

 

[Carver370]

You can remove the old snaps with a larger pair of wire cutters. Slide it under the base of the snap and cut. No need to drill anything out.

 

[Pack66Dad]

Quality snaps can be obtained from Great Lakes for Next to nothing. If you ask, they will send them regular US mail for about $1. I ordered a couple dozen. They also sell a snap tool that is like a modified pair of vise-grips that works like a charm. This was about $45 but worth every penny, IMO.

I tried the West Marine snap and tool kit first- big mistake.

Would you have a link for that tool?

 

[jason78]

Would you have a link for that tool?

Sure-

http://www.greatlakesboattop.com/installation

 

[HUMPH]

I tried the West Marine snap and tool kit first- big mistake.

That's what I bought but it worked out OK for what I needed when I needed it. I will order better snaps in the future though!

 

[Pack66Dad]

You can remove the old snaps with a larger pair of wire cutters. Slid it under the base of the snap and cut. No need to drill anything out.

The snaps are two piece; the outer button cap, and the inner snap. The button cap has a stem that goes through a hole in the inside piece. If you are careful you can use a pair of dikes to bend up the snap and pull it off of the stem.

Thank you :thumbsup:
I think I have just the tool for that.

 

[Pack66Dad]

Quality snaps can be obtained from Great Lakes for Next to nothing. If you ask, they will send them regular US mail for about $1. I ordered a couple dozen. They also sell a snap tool that is like a modified pair of vise-grips that works like a charm. This was about $45 but worth every penny, IMO.

I tried the West Marine snap and tool kit first- big mistake.

Thank you, tool is ordered and on its way:thumbsup:

 

[sbw1]

The snaps that are failing are on the parts of the canvas that came with the boat when I bought it.

If the canvas is in good shape, take it to a local canvas maker that does good work and have them rip out the old webbing and it replaced with a heavey duty nylon material for new snaps.. Replace the snaps with stainless steel and you will get longer life.

 

[Pack66Dad]

You can remove the old snaps with a larger pair of wire cutters. Slide it under the base of the snap and cut. No need to drill anything out.

Do you think a pair of these would work?

 

[Carver370]

I am sure those could. You can even use a flathead screwdriver if you're careful.

 

[johnsross3]

I've always drilled mine out. I use a pair of pliers to hold the cap of the snap (otherwise it will spin when you try to drill the underside) and then use a drill bit slightly larger than the barrel of the snap where its flared on the underside of the snap. It then pops off in seconds as soon as you drill through the flare. I've never had an accident.

Never tried the wirecutters you pictured but let us know how they work for you.