New Canvas Installation.

Bodkin Creek George

Bodkin Creek George

Member
Sep 11, 2008
550
Bodkin Creek, Chesapeake Bay Md.
Boat Info
2004 340 SDA
Engines
8.1 V-Drives
Hi All,
Just got our new canvas from Great Lakes. We will be putting it on our 2004 340 SDA. If anybody out there has any suggestions from first hand experience I would appreciate all I can get. I know we have to add the snaps and I have the tool for it. Do you match up the new with the old or strech the new as far as you can and add the snap.:huh: I am sure that somebody has some great advice.
Thanks,
George
 
Start with middle snaps then go to corner snaps per panel. Pull fabric tight....but not too tight (does that make sense?)
 
I did mine last season and installed the bimini top first , hung it on the frame and zipped. I found that you need to premake a hole prior to installing the snap, if you don't the snap will not crimp properly. They make a tool to make the holes but i felt it wouldn't work for me so I used a ice pick to go though the canvas first (which was not wide enough) and then used a Philips screw driver which matched the width of the snap. It sounds low end but worked very well for me. The snap male end should go through the hole cleanly then crimp. I found the rubber ends on the windshield I little more challenging to premake the holes.

I started in the center and worked my way around, pulled the canvas over the snap on the hull, aligned the ice pick in the center, lifted canvas and pushed thru , rechecked alignment, always keeping an eye on the end pieces, inserted screw driver, inserted male snap, crimped. Once I get the rythm down it went very fast. Mistakes are ok the wholes from the ice pick are not very big.
It took me a couple of hours to do the entire boat, at first it was slow going, just spent thousnads of dollars and I'm making holes in it and at first not sure I know what I'm doing but over all I was happy with the way it turned out. You will have bad crimps and the snaps may need to be replaced, a good long nose pliers will do the trick.
This is what worked for me ....Excuse typos I'm on a iPad...

Good luck
 
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When you start putting the canvas on, get all the zippers started, but only zip them an inch or so. Then very slowly work your way around and advance each zipper by a few inches. It will likely take several times around the boat doing each zipper a bit at a time to get them all fully zipped.

You can buy small zipper tabs from Sailrite.com that make getting the zippers up and down a much easier job. I got them for my boat and they're definitely a nice addition. They also make the canvas look a little nicer.

http://www.sailrite.com/Zipper-Pull-Tab-White
 
One thing I forgot to mention was to lubricate the zipper teeth. You don't want to use anything like WD40 or other petroleum based spray lubes. What I use is silicone spray and spray it on a rag, then wipe the teeth of the zippers, giving them a good coat. Or use a bar of soap and just wipe it up and down the teeth.
 
I haven't used this system myself while at the marina a few weeks ago a canvas shop was installing new canvas on a 280DA he used this tool system and swears by it after watching how fast and accurate it is if I get new canvas I'll buy it. It will work with any Snap Tool they say. Here's a link to a video on how it works.

http://www.sailrite.com/Sailrite-SnapRite-System-Complete-Kit
 
That is the coolest boating related tool I've seen in many years. If I didn't already own their big vise-grip snap installer I'd be a player for one of those tools.
 
Just installed all new canvas on my 2005 340. I used the snap tool that looks like a c clamp vice grip combination. I got it from Mcmaster Carr years ago whin I was installing canvas on military vehicles. The tool works perfectly every time but pricey. Like everyone said start in the middle and work your way to the sides. The tool will punch the hole for you because it inserts the snap in a straight line rather than an arc. Also just helped a friends with there new carpet on a 460 DA and it did a perfect job. Line the canvas up with the fixed snap, apply pressure on the canvas agenst the snap it will leave a slite ring mark. Then inhance the mark with a sharpy and install the snap. Only thing when you start double chech to make sure you don't install snap upside down.
 
Great info I need canvas for a 1989 sea ray 300 weekender with twin 5.7l inboards willing to buy used or new if the price is right.
 
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