Caring for canvas

alk

alk

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So I'm about to have a pair of canvas covers made for my bowrider ( cockpit and bow covers), and since it's such a large expense, I have a few questions I'm hoping the group can help with.

My original canvas is 12 years old, for the past 4-5 it's been looking pretty rough; is that average life for canvas covers, or is there something else I should be doing to take better care of it?

I think what really killed mine was the little poles that were supposed to keep puddles from forming. They always seemed to fall over, ended up with two puddles every time it rained, eventual result was mold on the canvas where the puddles formed. Is there a better way to support the canvas, to prevent puddling?

I have a trailer cover; should I put that on when the boat is on the trailer? Instead of the canvas, as opposed to over top of it? Not sure how good of an idea that is, as it seemed with my old cover whenever I left it off for an extended time, it would shrink enough that I couldn't get all the snaps snapped the next time I put it on, which of course would worsen the puddling problem.

Does the color I choose have any impact on how long the canvas will last? I was planning on going with black, but would consider something lighter if that would help.

thanks
 
There's a spray that reseals or waterproofs the canvas after a few years of use. It brought my old canvas back to life after it started soaking up water instead of repelling it. Power washing canvas can remove it's protective coating. There's arches to put across your boat instead of poles to keep from puddling or I've seen people make PVC frames also.
 
does everyone trailer with their canvas up? I remember when I bought my boat, there was a warning sticker to take the canvas off before trailering, but I usually left it on. Thinking back, having it get whipped by wind at 60mph probably wasn't the best thing for it.

I tried the cleaner and protectant sprays a few years ago, but I think it was alreday too far gone, within a few days it was back to soaking up water.
 
Canvas Life - Pay a little more and get Sunbrella. You'll get at least twice the life out of it. My enclosure is up 365 and looks fine after 8 years with Sunbrella. Be sure you get it made with Gore-thread.

Trailering - I lied. My enclosure is up about 363 days per year as we take it down to trailer from MD to FL and back. I think that 60+ mph wind can't do the canvas any good, and while I've seen some short tows have canvas up, it's technically illegal in MD from what I've been told (the reason being it could fly off an get stuck on somebody's windshield).
 
The Sunbrella site has good info on care and maintenance of the covers.
 
I SPRAY DOWN MY CANVAS WITH 303 IT BEADS UP THE WATER AND ALSO SEALS THE CANVAS
 
Alk,

It would depend. If it is outside, yes 12 years is about right. As when I bring my boat home for the winter from the marina and some winters it is inside, some outside, I understand the pole problem. I found an answer, at least for me, several years ago. When I store the boat outside I position a number of those large rolls (bags) of insulation under the cover for support. These are soft and deflect very little and no ponding of water or stretching of the cover occurs during snow and ice.

During a season I see many boats being towed with a "trailer cover" that is usually the size of an inflated parachute when going down the road.

I had a vinyl "road tarp" made that attaches via snaps on the underside of the rub rail and goes around and covers the entire boat. There are two "scoops" of canvas to allow for ventilation and with screens to keep the critters out. I maintain it with 303 with UV protectant as mentioned above. I try to not remove it during the winter because of the shrinkage mentioned. It is not very flexible in extreme cold.

Mine is dark blue which matches the boat which is normally in a covered slip during the hot days of summer and out of the sun so the color doesn't matter much. There have been some spring days before I launched for the season that temps reached the high 90's. To say under the cover was hot would be an understament. I normally open it up as it is more heat than the the vents can handle.

Stan
 
Thanks Gary,

When I purchased this boat it had two pair of the insert pcs attached to the sides of the bow.

NOW I know what they are for. I am not sure how to attach these on the upper side pieces (above glass, into metal frame) of the stern portion of the wind screen though. Behind the wind screen was the worst ponding. It was very hard to see unless one heaved up on the fenders of the trailer.

Stan
 
Canvas' two worst enemies are sun and mildew/mold from moisture. Covering the canvas during storing or storing the boat inside a garage, carport, etc keeps it out of the sun. Air circulation keeps it from building up moisture which is the cause of mold/mildew.

I understand Sunbrella does not have the shrinkage problem of other types of canvas. Maybe someone on this forum can confirm that or not.

Enjoy!
 
How do you keep the canvas clean if you cannot steam spray it?
 
I have had good luck with washing the sunbrella in Woolite when it needs a washing due to molding in the summer. Always spray heavily with 303.
 
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