Advice on covers please

[aviator]

My cockpit covers are difficult to fit onto their poppers so asked the maintenance people to quote for repairs. They came back with a quote that included replacing all windows because ‘clear window material shrinks with time’.
Has anyone heard of this before?
Thanks

 

[BruceK]

Apparently so yes. That the plastic should shrink rather than the canvas rather turns common sense on it's head but there you go.

 

[BruceK]

In so saying, I have an old motor cycle with plastic fairings and they definitely have shrunk.

 

[aviator]

Thanks very much. As you say it turns logic on its head.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

The clue to shrunk Windows is puckered stitching along the fabric to window edges.
You could always try fitting it on a warm day when it’s a bit softer and more flexible.
Alternatively look out for a tool called a Top-Snapper. It makes fitting poppers a lot
easier .

 

[aviator]

The clue to shrunk Windows is puckered stitching along the fabric to window edges.
You could always try fitting it on a warm day when it’s a bit softer and more flexible.
Alternatively look out for a tool called a Top-Snapper. It makes fitting poppers a lot
easier .

Two great pointers. I am sure the stitching is not puckered. The tool looks great but is strangely not sold in the UK AFAICS. Amazon list them as being unavailable and no idea when will be available. If this tool works as advertised you would think it would be in many boater/caravaner toolkits.
Time to investigate since the cost of replacing windows is rather large.
Thanks very much for the information.

 

[Rappey]

Have a look at " lift the dot" type poppers. Very easy to put on and off.
You lift on the popper rather than tugging on the material.

 

[aviator]

Have a look at " lift the dot" type poppers. Very easy to put on and off.
You lift on the popper rather than tugging on the material.

Thanks. I have some of these fitted and never questioned why used on some places and not on others. I had also never thought about ease of removal but actually you are right.

 

[Rappey]

why used on some places and not on others.

I fitted the type that started this thread aroud my sports boat to hold on a full cover. didnt want the lift the dot as the post sticks out and could see it doing nasty things to my rear end as i slide over the side of the boat.
After a complete failure of the pop on, pop off type i changed them for lift the dot.. Vastly superior as long as you can live with around a 6mm blunt protrusion.
I bought them from kayospruce as were a fraction of the normal retail price.