The NY Dad
Member
We bought new canvas for the boat and Great Lakes Boat Tops was kind enough to throw in their install tool for free when I said I was going to need one. I am really glad they did that because I would have been really upset about paying $50 for it. I installed about 24 snaps, it took me 3 hours, I was using both hands and all the force I had to squeeze the tool closed and still could not get even one of them crimped tight enough not to rotate. The crimps weren't good and the snaps all had bends in them due to the jaws closing at an angle. I have arthritis in my right hand and it was just killing me for 4 days after that. As much as I didn't want spend $149 for a tool I would use one time, I bit the bullet and bought the Hoover tool. I went back over the snaps I had done previously with the hoover using one hand I as able to get the snaps tight enough so they would not rotate. I then did the rest of the snaps about 24 more, nice even crimp all around and no bent snaps, took me 2 hours to do all that. Can't say enough good about the Hoover tool, its expensive but it does what it was made to do and does it extremely well with far less force, no pain this time. I won't be needing the tool now so if some one would like to buy it I'll sell it for $130 plus it was worth 20 bucks to me to use a tool that works.
