Camper canvas installation

**Dave S** · 10-24-2006, 06:25 AM

Yesterday I installed my camper canvas for the first time on my new 260DA and I found it quite frustrating. I had to ask the service department for some help because I first thought the canvas just didn't fit. After seeing what they had to do by way of pulling and stretching, zipping and unzipping, etc, I was a bit dismayed that installing the canvas was this difficult. Even after we finished, there were two zippers we couldn't get fully closed. They indicated that if I get the boat in the sun and get things heated up, those zippers should close. I should also mention that on my boat I have regular snaps on the top of the windshield rather than the rubber channel that Sea Ray has used in the past.

So for all you experienced folks out there, should I expect that next year will be just as bad or will the canvas take a "set" and stretch a bit after being up for the winter making it easier to install next year? How many of you have experienced this kind of difficulty installing your canvas? Any tips you can offer will be appreciated.

**First Born** · 10-24-2006, 06:45 AM

Dave,

I am not familiar with the camper cover so hopefully others will help out with the question. But I would assume it is alot like the regular canvas cover. The first time I tried to put it on the boat I would have swore there was no way this was for my boat. But over time it has stretched and now is easy to put on. I would say give it some time and a couple of putting it on and taking it off and you should not have a problem. Now for the professionals to help...

Wesley

**SkipBarnes** · 10-24-2006, 07:17 AM

Dave

When I had my 250DA, I centered the top canvas without anything on the sides yet and not tied down in the front by measuring using a tape. Once I had it centered, I marked the stainless frame where tyhe canvas should be using a sharpie. I always started at the front and worked my way back. For me, the most frustrating thing was finding one side of the boat tight and the other loose.

It will get easier once it's had a chance to stretch a bit and doing on a hot day is going to be a lot easier.

S

**Scholarship** · 10-24-2006, 08:10 AM

I installed my camper canvas for the first time last week. It had never been out of the bag since the boat was bought new by the first owner in August 2004. I laid all of the pieces out in the sun for about an hour before I began to warm them up but still had a heck of a time with several of the zippers, espicially the port and starboard rear panels. In all I spent two hours getting everything to fit properly including slight adjustments to several of the snaps along the windshield. Like you, I still have one zipper that will not close all the way...but it's pretty close.

I'm hoping that next year will be easier too!

**JOHN R.316** · 10-24-2006, 08:11 AM

Dave, Looking at your boat picture sides and back camper panels.I zipper first then snap. Don't snap first you will pull stitches out of zipper. Warm weather will help. If you have ceramic heater plug it in back of boat let canvas heat up a little then snap.

**fwebster** · 10-24-2006, 08:19 AM

Typical for good fitting canvas, Dave.

The bigger the boat the worse it is, but it is far better to have tight canvas than to have it bag and catch water. My tops sound like a drum head if you thump them with your finger.

If there is a cause and associated trick, it has to to with temperature. You are likely not going to get cold canvas up because of the shrinkage of both the Sunbrella and the isinglass. Next year, pick a warm or even hot day, put all the canvas panels ouside the boat in an area where they can warm up during the day, then put up the enclosure in the sun when you are ready.

From where you are now, all you can do is wait for a warm day and try. One trick is to releax the center bows on the tops and inch or so. That takes pressure off the canvas package all around the boat and may allow you to get it fastened/zipped. When all the closures are done, loosen the top bows and push them up......sometimes a little on successive warm days.

Putting up cold canvas is hard on the canvas, isinglass, stitching, zippers and snaps not to mention you and your frustration quotient.

**jrcinnh** · 10-24-2006, 08:24 AM

First of all, be thankful you have snaps instead of the window channels. My 260 had channels and I would not buy another boat with them.

Things will loosen up. The mostly canvas panels will just strech with use. The mostly isenglass panel will strech and contract with temperature. I leave my full canvas up all week when I'm not there and sometimes at night when we are there. After one season, even on warm days I cannot fully zipper all the isenglass panels, especially on the front edge of the arch.

Sometimes you can help things a little buy moving the snaps on the windshield, if you unscrew them a little they will slide around.

Finally you really want one of these Ironwood top snappers, overpriced but the best $25 you can spend :

**Bridog** · 10-24-2006, 09:46 AM

Dave, It will get easier with practice. I find it MUCH easier when I start the zippers first about 4" or so THEN do the snaps and finally zip the rest of the way. If you zip first you will find it almost impossible to snap the rest in place. This has been the best method I have found with my 260DA. Good luck, Brian

**skolbe** · 10-24-2006, 10:09 AM

It gets easier with practice. But it is always really tight. Until it is up and sitting in the sun.

**Dave S** · 10-24-2006, 11:23 AM

Thanks everyone for the tips and relating your own experiences. And thanks to jrcinnh for suggesting the Ironwood Top Snapper too. I just went out to West Marine this morning and bought one! That tool also will solve the problem of how to resnap the center panel from inside the boat since it will occasionally be removed for things like extra ventilation or getting up to the bow to deploy the anchor.