Cover fixings

DavidJ

DavidJ

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home in Brum. S37 sold, was in Med Spain.
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I notice on one of Luke’s pictures (hope you don’t mind Luke) that he has what seems to be an improvement to his cover fixing. I just have the conventional poppers.
I had new covers made in the UK, almost a year ago now, and they will be eventually fitted in Spain. I have the opportunity of a better and easier fixing method.
Is there a downside to Luke’s system?
Is there a better one?
Cheers guys and a happy new year.

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looks good to me except where the cover attacher person is 'inside' doing it. would definitely be good on our flybridge cover sides, though less so for front perhaps where elastics are ok. cockpit cover likewise, living on board I tend to think from inside out.
 
I think the problem would be wind blowing the cover off or flapping around until it could be reconnected.
I think poppers could blow off as well.
In the instance above, I would have thought that "Lift the Dot" fittings would be the safest.
 
I have Luke's type for the rear of the canopy and tonneau cover. Far and away better than anything else for the simple reason it allows you to precisely tension and mold the cover.

As for Hurricane's postulation about blowing off. Forget it. I've also had them fitted around the first 2 clips round the corners. I can cruise with the sides and front corners off and the back stays solid without wind flap or vibration. As for strength they easily out perform poppers in every respect.
 
Hurricane said:
I think the problem would be wind blowing the cover off or flapping around until it could be reconnected.
I think poppers could blow off as well.
In the instance above, I would have thought that "Lift the Dot" fittings would be the safest.
Click to expand...
I didn’t know the name so I called them poppers but “Lift the Dot” is what I’ve got.
The problem I have, especially with the front “Lift the Dots” is that I’m starting to struggle (it’s an age thing) with pulling the canvas tight and securing down.
 
Oh no, They arent for the front. Rear and rear corners only. They tension down the whole tonneau or canopy. You need to be able to tension from a fixed point screen / radar arch etc otherwise the whole system just crumbles.
 
DavidJ said:
I didn’t know the name so I called them poppers but “Lift the Dot” is what I’ve got.
The problem I have, especially with the front “Lift the Dots” is that I’m starting to struggle (it’s an age thing) with pulling the canvas tight and securing down.
Click to expand...
You could try a little squirt of silicone spray but I suspect that your problem is that the old covers have shrunk.
All covers shrink especially in the strong Med sun.
I should think that if you fit some "Lift the Dot" "poppers", they will be fine with the new covers.
Thats what I would use (and am using).
I have just finished making a new set of cockpit covers from the same fabric that Princess supply with new boats - maybe these covers will last longer than the last ones that I made from cheap fabric!!
I have also made a new mesh cockpit screen.
Both these new covers and the new cockpit screen will be fixed at the bottom using "Lift the Dots".

BTW - did you know you can get neat little "Lift the Dot" punches that will make fitting them a whole lot easier.
I use one like this for about 50 quid!!!
s-l225.webp

But Timbad on this forum found these on eBay for a lot less - about 12 quid
s-l225.webp

Just do a search on eBay for "Lift the dot punch"
 
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Yes the old covers had shrunk plus I had some new “windows“ fitted which were a little stiffer than the original adding to my woes.
Admiration for making your own. There is a company near us in Cannock who have the original Sealine templates so had new ones made there but I recall it was getting on to two thousand quid. Tempted to DIY the fitting....let’s see! Thanks for eBay info.
 
bigwow said:
I've always found Tenax fasteners more secure, and easier to fit.
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That’s a good suggestion, I have come across them before and like them. They have the advantage, I think, that I could simply replace my existing studs with these and fit the Tenax “popper” to my new covers.
Thanks, good one.
I’ll attach a pic for anyone following this:

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DavidJ said:
That’s a good suggestion, I have come across them before and like them. They have the advantage, I think, that I could simply replace my existing studs with these and fit the Tenax “popper” to my new covers.
Thanks, good one.
I’ll attach a pic for anyone following this:

View attachment 106210
Click to expand...
I don't think that are as robust as "Lift the Dots"
In my experience, the little springs break.
I've never has a "Lift the Dot" break.
Last weel, I even recoverd some old "Lift the Dots" from an old cover as spares, before throwing it out.
 
Hurricane said:
I don't think that are as robust as "Lift the Dots"
In my experience, the little springs break.
I've never has a "Lift the Dot" break.
Last weel, I even recoverd some old "Lift the Dots" from an old cover as spares, before throwing it out.
Click to expand...
Must admit the covers I’m due to replace are 10 years old and although I’ve replaced the “windows” the “Lift the Dot” fasteners are still working perfectly.
I guess for people like me who, under normal circumstances, may not visit their boats for maybe up to six months, best not to experiment and leave things alone and put up with cover struggles
At the moment I would love to be on the boat fighting the covers.....Ah well!
 
This is where those straps excel. Fasten to fixed points in front when not under tension and tortion the back up. No more struggling with shrinkage, canopy movement or anything else. There has to be a reason it is in principle exactly what the HGV trailers use.
 
It’s not like that on my boat. The front pulls down from the arch fixings and the rear independently pulls down the other way.
However straps on the rear would significantly help with the winter tonneau cover which does pull directly from the front fixings
I appreciate your input to to help with my problem

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In my experience it is the window material that causes most of the shrinkage.
Most covers are made fro Sunbrella canvas or equivalent.
Princess initially supplied our boat with a white PVC material which lasted well.
Here they are after 12 years use.
Yes, I know they look terrible but at the end of their life they made excellent winter covers.

20200403_182701.resized.jpg
We have some original summer covers, bought from the Princess, that are made from the same PVC material.
Almost two years ago, I decided to buy a Sailrite sewing machine and make my own.
I decided to buy some cheap canvas fabric and so I made these.
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If you search these forums, you should find a long thread on the subject.
Unfortunately, the cheap fabric didn't stand up to the strong Med sun.
The same covers 18 months later.
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The canvas lost most of its strength.
20200909_120618.resized.jpg
On the plus side, they did last one year giving the new Princess covers an extra year.
And another plus, I learned a whole lot about making them.
But with all the lock downs this year, I couldn't trust leaving them for long periods.
They would probably have ripped to pieces.
So I put the new Princess PVC covers back on.
This pic was taken yesterday.
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The good news is that I have found a good source of the PVC fabric and during the last couple of months, I've beem making covers for all parts of the boat.
These new covers include new cockpit covers to match the ones in the last pic and a new dinghy cover made from the same material.
Also a new console cover for the flybridge
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And a new hatch cover
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During these lock down periods, SWMBO and I have been staying at home, not going anywhere.
So, I have also made a new summer cockpit mesh screen and a few other bist and pieces.

I'm really enjoying the Sailrite machine and pleased that I have had it through these troubling times because it has given me lots to do to keep my mind off the actual boating.

I think I've finished all the covers that I can make - now its time to start on the symthetic teak for the flybridge.
 
DavidJ said:
Smart job and I’ve been following your teak posting. The flybridge in synthetic teak will be lovely and you’ve probably developed all the skills required by now so may even be a straightforward job ( if you’re lucky)
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I wish I had that confidence.
When I picked up the raw material from Andy at Trakmark, I asked for some advice.
I suggested to him that I was planning on making the deck in two pieces.
He though about it and then asked how I was going to lift it onto the Flybridge.
This surprised me but thinking about it , it will be quite heavy - I haven't calculated it.
It is probably the shape as well as the weight.
I explained that I have a crane and we agreed that would probably be the best way to lift it.
But my first issue is going to be the removal of all the flybridge furniture which was originally fitted after the original teak.
Lots of work and we don't yet know when we can get there.
 
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