Josh Assing wrote:
In the south, about 20 years ago. The plastic covered stuff would
peal off in the sun and would crack in the cold. For sunbrella, I
spray mine with waterproofing about once a year and I can usually get 10
yrs + our of a top in the SFlorida sun.

well; I get about 3 years for the plastic canvas stuff (I dunno what it's real
name is) --- never occured to me to use sunbrella as a top -- I"m going for it.

Thanks to all!

-josh


Josh Assing wrote:
Sunbrella is the de-facto standard for boat canvas. Nothing strange there.

when did it go from that plastic hard covered canvas stuff?


-W

"Josh Assing" wrote in message
...

My boat top (the vinyl type canvas) is shot - lots of pinholes, zipper
tearing

away, and shrunk up so I can't snap it all back.

I had a recommendation from a friend to call one guy -- and his price is
very

reasonable but he uses sunbrella -- anyone have any thoughts on using
sunbrella

as a boat top?

Thanks
-josh

I keep my boat in a covered slip, and I normally get 5 or 6yrs before I
have to redo the waterproof treatment. I only clean it with boat wash
so it is a mild detergent.

"Josh Assing" wrote
never occured to me to use sunbrella as a top

Don't take this the wrong way, but aren't there any other boats where you
are? I still use the original vinyl running covers on my '77 Thunderbird,
but that's rare. Everybody around me has sunbrella or something like it for
theirs.

On Sat, 10 Feb 2007 20:27:19 -0500, "Ernest Scribbler"
wrote:

"Josh Assing" wrote
never occured to me to use sunbrella as a top

Don't take this the wrong way, but aren't there any other boats where you
are? I still use the original vinyl running covers on my '77 Thunderbird,
but that's rare. Everybody around me has sunbrella or something like it for
theirs.


Yes; but I don't go around sniffing other peoples boats -- in our marina -- one
boat has sunbrella -- a 50' boat that has it as a bimini top on the flybridge -
otherwise, they're hardtops or the plasticy stuff.

The sailboats are a different story -- tons of sailboats use it for sail covers,
shades, etc.




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On Feb 12, 12:17?pm, wrote:


If you have a sewing type friend who likes some extra money you can
get Sunbrella at the fabric store for a small fraction of what it
costs at the "boat" place.

A lot of household duty machines aren't designed to sew Sunbrella or
other
"canvas". Too thick and heavy. Canvas shops use special industrial
duty nachines for this work. Such machines are available to folks who
sew at home and undoubtedly a lot of folks own something that would
prove capable. Still, it might be a mistake the assume that the $99
Sears sewing machine gathering dust in the hall closet will be up to
the task of stitching together Sunbrella.

Good theory; and I've made sail covers for my boat before doing a similar
approach; but the existing top has shrunk some; so it wouldn't be good -- and
doing 40mph with an ill fitting top wouldnt' make me happy.

On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:17:12 -0500, wrote:

On Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:36:09 -0800, Josh Assing
wrote:

My boat top (the vinyl type canvas) is shot - lots of pinholes, zipper tearing
away, and shrunk up so I can't snap it all back.

I had a recommendation from a friend to call one guy -- and his price is very
reasonable but he uses sunbrella -- anyone have any thoughts on using sunbrella
as a boat top?

Thanks
-josh


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If you have a sewing type friend who likes some extra money you can
get Sunbrella at the fabric store for a small fraction of what it
costs at the "boat" place. I had one of my neighbor ladies make a
replacement top for me, using the original as a pattern and she was
embarrassed to take $100, plus the 30-40 bucks I had in materials. All
she really had to do was "run it up" on her machine.
You just cut out all the original stitching, use the pieces to mark
out the new top and put it back together.
Tell the ladies at the fabric store what you are doing and they will
sell you the right thread.
I suppose YMMV in some "off the water" places but they are used to
that here.


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