canopy dye and refurb or replace??

[ozzie]

I have just had a local canopy company out to look our Bavaria 29DC with a view to replacing the full canopy. The quote is £1800 which I don't think is too bad, but he questioned why we wanted a new one. His opinion is that the material is in good shape, and just needs a refurb to include all new windows of a slightly bigger size, zips replaced where necessary and seams re-stitched. This would only cost £350, leaving me with a sizeable chunk to put towards other improvements we would like to do.
I am tempted, but the main thing I don't like about the canopy is the colour! Its almost a denim looking light blue, and to me doesn't match the blue band on the hull and looks dated. The question is do I put up with it and go for the refurb option, go for new, or the option in my mind is changing the colour with some sort of dye or paint. The material is 10 years old and man made, but I don't know what. I have heard of renovo. Has anyone used it or know of anything else which would work? The canopy guy didn't recommend trying to change the colour. He said it gives the material a cardboard like finish and will speed up the deterioration of the material. Really not sure what to do. Any advice??

 

[rubberduck]

Just had mine cleaned & re-stitched etc, colour has become closer to original, canopy man reckons I should get another two-three years, for a few hundred quid.

 

[kashurst]

re dying old canopies can be a bit hit and miss - if you dont like the colour of the existing material there is no guarantee it will be improved. Sounds like the existing canopy is essentially sound you just dont like the colour, the best result colour/finish would be a new one. £1800 - £350 - £100 (dying and stuff) = £1350 is the extra cost to get what you really want. Only you can say if thats OK.

 

[Nick_H]

Most canopies are made from solution dyed acrylic, which (I think) means the colour is added in solution before the thread is even formed. I don't know for sure, but I wouldn't expect a polymer to absorb dye, so I doubt you would get good results trying to dye your existing cover. Having said that, if you're going to chuck it away otherwise then you have nothing to lose, so why not try dying one section before deciding whether to repair or replace?

 

[paultallett]

Just a thought, have you tried the Renovo? I've got no experirance of it but hear very good things at restoring colour. I know it won't change the canopies colour totally but may well freshen it up to look new again?

 

[ozzie]

I have just been having a surf and renovo actually do a boat canvas reviver in navy blue, which looks as if it would do the job, but really I would like to hear from anyone who has used it.

 

[rafiki_]

A new canopy is one of the best ways of sprucing up the boat. We had a custom one made for our Sunline 31, cost about £1500 3 years ago iirc. Made a huge difference to both the looks and the usability of the boat.