Remove canvas snaps for waxing?

[Madifonzo]

I was just wondering what others do. Canvas snaps are necessary yes, but a royal pain in ass when waxing or detailing. Seems it would actually be easier to just remove the snaps and replace after. Just wondering if anyone has a good trick for this.

 

[Do Over]

wow.....I would never even consider doing that just to wax a boat.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I've done it, but not all the time. It doesn't take too long to get them out (less than 10 minutes) and only a little longer to put them back in. I'll lay them out and put a dab of sealant on a bunch of them at a time and then just screw them back in. You can use a power driver to remove them, but put them back in by hand. Personal preference.

 

[saopm]

I replaced all of mine when I replaced the clears and back drop. It is easy compounding and waxing when they are out. Use sealant when you put them back in. My guess is you will want to buy shiny new ones.

 

[Quint4]

I would not do it.

If they are bedded properly, and tight....leave them alone.

 

[HUMPH]

I am planning on removing all of mine prior to my next polish and wax process. The only reason is two fold; the first being that there are a couple of snaps that are loose, the second is I cannot guarantee the snaps were installed with proper sealant so I need to do this for my own comfort level.

 

[Madifonzo]

The other reason I was considering removing was to also clean them or replace. They are corroded and difficult to snap form years of salt and wax build up. I will remove but will be sure to re-seal. What would the recommendee sealant be? 5200?

 

[firecadet613]

I used LifeCalk when I resealed mine. I replaced a couple..but didn't wax while they were off.

 

[fwebster]

The other reason to leave them alone is that most of the snaps, if not all, are screwed directly into the fiberglass. Sea Ray drills pilot holes, countersinks them, then the snaps are installed with self tapping screws. That means every snap that is removed and reinstalled removes some of the fiberglass holding the screws and eventually the screws will become loose and the screws back out. At some point, you will have to repair the fiberglass.

Leave then alone and just take your rime polishing around them.

 

[Lazy Daze]

LifeCalk is great stuff, a little less messy is LifeSeal. Either way, you only need a very small amount - I usually only smear a little bit onto the threads on one side. An easy way to do that is to use a plastic sandwich baggie like a cake decorating bag. Cut-off a very small corner of the baggie. If you want, you could start each snap into the hole, just enough so it grabs a bit, then gently squeeze a little sealant onto the shaft (closer to the boat side) and then turn it in.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Although a lot of whether or not the screw will loosen over time comes down to the individual and his/her "finesse" with reinstalling, Frank does have a point. Now, I've never had any of mine loosen up from removing/reinstalling on any of my boats, but I'm very careful with it. Well, maybe the VERY, VERY occasional one or two - but sometimes these snaps will loosen on their own, as well, from vibration and just plain old use - so I don't know if it's fair for me to blame on one particular reason. As I mentioned above, I don't do it all the time, though. It's usually only if I need to get a little more aggressive with a compound job.

If you decide you don't want to remove them, a good wool pad will go right over and around the snaps. Just angle the pad a bit and use some finesse. But it's relatively forgiving. A foam pad will rip apart.

 

[Woody]

Other deck hardware is recaulked, rebedded as a preventative measure why not snaps? You guys suggesting only when the deck core is soaked and the headliner is dripping?:huh:

 

[Madifonzo]

I have heard of issue with factory sealed hardware so I don't subscribe to the theory that I should leave them alone. Like I mentioned, the snaps currently on the boat are caked with salt and wax from ten years of use. It is very difficult to snap them due to the build up...the surfaces of the snaps are no longer smooth and they do not look very good anymore. My plan was to replace with new stainless snaps. I planned to remove for a good compound and wax job anyway. Sounds like the sealant is the most important steps. I will be taking my time and doing it right.

Thanks to all for the feedback.

BTW-I am also getting all new canvas so those snaps will be new as well.

 

[Mike Blake]

I remove them all the time to buff-wax. Saves on the pads.

 

[tc410]

When I used to do all my own polishing and waxing I always removed them. It makes for a much easier job and I always noticed "shadows" of dull gelcoat around snaps that weren't removed. They sell small plastic caps just for waxing that you put over snaps just to avoid plugging them with wax, but for me, taking them out was easier and then I was always assured that they were appropriately bedded each year. And for the snaps that become loose/stripped, I would just break off a toothpick in the hole before re-bedding them.

 

[saopm]

The other reason I was considering removing was to also clean them or replace. They are corroded and difficult to snap form years of salt and wax build up. I will remove but will be sure to re-seal. What would the recommendee sealant be? 5200?

Use 4200, not 5200.