Tight side windows

[Mike sandor]

I reciently got our new to us boat home from Lake Ozark. She has been under cover in the driveway, yesterday, the weather got up to mid fifties and I just had to open up the boat. First order of buisness was to put up the canvas.
Note that other than the biminies and the cockpit cover, none of the other canvas has ever been installed. The front and side glass, and the rear section were still in ther original plastic wrap. The issue I see is it apears that the glass portion of the side panels have shrunk up a bit. Front three pieces all went on good, side's were a real pain, did not get the rear snapped and the stern zippers are extremely tight. I hate to replace the glass as they visually are new, but I can not struggle every time they are installed. Note that I had all the canvas in the house for the last few weeks so they were at approx. 70 degress. Is there a way to stretch them out a bit? Possibly hang the window and hang a weight? Heat gun?
Thanks for any recomendations.

 

[Strecker25]

I'd shy away from the heat gun. A fast moving hair dryer maybe, but even that could probably fog them up

Wait until the sun is out and its a big warmer. I know they were in the house, but the sun really softens up the plastic and allows them to get back to the correct size. If you have snaps they attach to you can just get some extensions temporarily, they also make them for zippers.

 

[Mike sandor]

I thought I read somewhere about the zipper extensions, never thought there was something similar for the snaps.
Thanks for the tip... I love this site.

 

[310sundancer]

I would definitely let it warm up. My vote is the Bimini shrank

 

[Strecker25]

I thought I read somewhere about the zipper extensions, never thought there was something similar for the snaps.
Thanks for the tip... I love this site.

No problem, here's a link but if you have a snap tool you can just make them and they'll be the correct size
https://www.amazon.com/Canvas-Extenders-Stainless-Steel-pieces/dp/B01EK2NABO

 

[importmonkey]

No problem, here's a link but if you have a snap tool you can just make them and they'll be the correct size
https://www.amazon.com/Canvas-Extenders-Stainless-Steel-pieces/dp/B01EK2NABO

+1 for making them yourself. You'll find more uses for the snap tool and be able to do repairs yourself if things come up. Just make sure to get good quality SS snaps. Cheap ones are not for boats, and you'll aware up and down with cheaply made ones.

 

[BillK2632]

EZ-Extend Boat Zipper:

 

[The Bill Collector]

https://www.canvas-boat-cover-and-repair-advisor.com/ez-xtend-boat-zippers.html

 

[KevinC]

When I got my 260DA I was given the original canvas. I swore that there was no way it was going to - but - after a few warmer days and getting the canvas wet it eventually loosened up and fit again. Its amazing how much you can actually get it to stretch. If you have snaps you might want to get a hold of "top snapper" tool like this one from Amazon to allow you to get a little more leverage. Its a very handy tool if you need to snap down in tight places or from inside the enclosure too.

-Kevin

 

[Woody]

- but - after a few warmer days and getting the canvas wet it eventually loosened up and fit again. Its amazing how much you can actually get it to stretch.-Kevin

+1