New Canvas Install Question

eweise

eweise

Active Member
PLATINUM Sponsor
Aug 23, 2013
530
Jacksonville, FL
Boat Info
2005 Sea Ray 280 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 4.3L 220 HP, Alpha 1 Drives, 5E Genny, AC
I ordered new bimini, sunshade and cockpit canvas during the last GLBT sale. Any suggestions on the installation of these? I have the tool for the snaps but am a little unsure and do not want to punch holes in the wrong spots. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
I did my top last spring. The hand tool is hard work. I found using a bit of vaseline on the pin side of the crimping tool every couple of crimps helped. Still got sore hands getting them tight enough. I wrecked a few snaps before I figured out the technique, but the kit came with quite a few extras. I used a thin soldering iron tip to melt a small hole before crimping. Not sure if will have worked, but my theory is that the melted edges would be better than a fraying hole. I put the snaps in the same location as the bases on the boat. I did it with the canvas in place and started at the top and worked down. The only part I did differently was the slope back. That piece I took extra time to align it right to mark the corners and then infilled the rest of the snaps. My job ended up looking right.
 
eweise said:
I ordered new bimini, sunshade and cockpit canvas during the last GLBT sale. Any suggestions on the installation of these? I have the tool for the snaps but am a little unsure and do not want to punch holes in the wrong spots. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I bought the cockpit canvas last year and paid the canvas guy at my marina about $75 bucks to put the snaps on it. If I did it, I would certainly have misaligned some.

You may want to check what the labor would be as you'd still be ahead of the game.

I am all for doing whatever you can when you can to save $$, but I didn't want to screw the new cover up.....
 
There is a canvas shop near the marina. Maybe I'll contact them for a quote. It will be too easy for me to screw up $2500 worth of new canvas.
 
There is a canvas shop near the marina. Maybe I'll contact them for a quote. It will be too easy for me to screw up $2500 worth of new canvas.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That was my thoughts when I did it. Even though I bought the tool as well, I am much more comfortable replacing snaps that were already there.
 
rpasquarello said:
I bought the cockpit canvas last year and paid the canvas guy at my marina about $75 bucks to put the snaps on it. If I did it, I would certainly have misaligned some.

You may want to check what the labor would be as you'd still be ahead of the game.

I am all for doing whatever you can when you can to save $$, but I didn't want to screw the new cover up.....
Click to expand...


I DO NOT WANT TO START A FIGHT!
................but I do want to make a point. We had a discussion about GL on another thread, I'm sure y'all read it. My point is this, consider how it makes your canvas guy feel doing this job. No doubt they will do it with a smile, but out of ear shot it will hurt their feelings.
I'm confidant GL wouldn't work on someone elses canvas for you. Just a thought for next time you need canvas work done. At least talk to them, tell them you want GL canvas and give them the option to order it and install it for you if you can't or don't want to DIY.

Absoutely do your research, look at their work before making a decision. Then you wouldn't have to worry about how to get the snaps in the correct place.
 
islandhopper00 said:
I DO NOT WANT TO START A FIGHT!
................but I do want to make a point. We had a discussion about GL on another thread, I'm sure y'all read it. My point is this, consider how it makes your canvas guy feel doing this job. No doubt they will do it with a smile, but out of ear shot it will hurt their feelings.
I'm confidant GL wouldn't work on someone elses canvas for you. Just a thought for next time you need canvas work done. At least talk to them, tell them you want GL canvas and give them the option to order it and install it for you if you can't or don't want to DIY.

Absoutely do your research, look at their work before making a decision. Then you wouldn't have to worry about how to get the snaps in the correct place.
Click to expand...

Mike,

Think not of this as a "fight" but as a "lively discussion."

:smt101

I think that the canvas, in this particular "discussion" thread was already ordered and purchased, so that's what we are commenting on.

In my own instance, I happened to speak with the canvas guy at the marina where I winter the boat after the fact and he had no issue doing less than an hour's work (for cash).

So, the particulars vary case-by-case. From my own perspective, and pocket, that worked out best for me. Maybe not as lucrative for the guy I used to pop the snaps in, but he did make something in his pocket for his time/labor.

:smt024
 
Our marina canvas guy came by while I was popping snaps and joked about how he could do it faster. He knew by looking at it that hit was the OEM canvas and said it was great it was still available. I asked him about tieing into the OEM bimini with a camper back and he said he could give me a quote for a camper back with matching fabric. No hurt feelings and he has a potential customer still.
 
Creekwood said:
Our marina canvas guy came by while I was popping snaps and joked about how he could do it faster. He knew by looking at it that hit was the OEM canvas and said it was great it was still available. I asked him about tieing into the OEM bimini with a camper back and he said he could give me a quote for a camper back with matching fabric. No hurt feelings and he has a potential customer still.
Click to expand...

You were putting in your own snaps, and you missed the point. He didn't offer to jump in and finish for you did he?

He's not stupid, do you think he would scold you for not using him? Or do you think he just kept that to himself, and put on a smile and offer his services?


Here's a question. Do you complain to food service people about your food quality, and send food back to the kitchen?
I never do. If I can't eat what they brought me, I don't eat. You do realize food staff folks, put on a smile and do what you ask..............most of the time! lol
 
Last edited:
I found it easy to to do once i got the right tool... Which looks like this:
Capture.gif
 
islandhopper00 said:
You were putting in your own snaps, and you missed the point. He didn't offer to jump in and finish for you did he?

He's not stupid, do you think he would scold you for not using him? Or do you think he just kept that to himself, and put on a smile and offer his services?


Here's a question. Do you complain to food service people about your food quality, and send food back to the kitchen?
I never do. If I can't eat what they brought me, I don't eat. You do realize food staff folks, put on a smile and do what you ask..............most of the time! lol
Click to expand...
Extra big tip I'll bet too:wow:
 
When you get ready to install the snaps on the cockpit cover, start in the middle, as in the middle of the windshield. snap it in and go to the back and do the same thing. It will take longer, but the cover will be centered properly, and not pulled to one side. Go back and forth from front to back, gradually working to the sides. If the cover is too tight, wet it down good and it will stretch. It's easier on a warm day.

Don
 
This is a really easy job, but take your time. Follow Southpaw II's instructions. I did this job a couple of years ago and had no problem but a couple of destroyed snaps....simply tossed these and did it again. Get yourself "punch plyers" at a local hardware store. These make it real easy to make a hole in the canvas to place the snaps prior to crimping. Again, in my opinion, this is an easy job.....just take your time.
 
davefin said:
This is a really easy job, but take your time. Follow Southpaw II's instructions. I did this job a couple of years ago and had no problem but a couple of destroyed snaps....simply tossed these and did it again. Get yourself "punch plyers" at a local hardware store. These make it real easy to make a hole in the canvas to place the snaps prior to crimping. Again, in my opinion, this is an easy job.....just take your time.
Click to expand...

+1. Took us 5 or 6 hours, including lunch break. Zip your front canvas, let it bake in the hot sun, no cooler than 80 degrees. Do the top, aft curtains, finish with front snaps. This way the glas will stretch. The feeling of accomplishment is well worth not paying someone to do it.
 
Installed a set on my previous 280DA last year. Start in the middle. Make sure you are centered, work you way out evenly, used chalk to mark my snap locations, take your time. Make sure you warm everything up in the sun on a nice sunny day, makes a big difference. End result looked great!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,253
Messages
1,429,373
Members
61,132
Latest member
MinecraftRu1Swilm
Back
Top