Shrunken canopy

[DougOut]

Over the winter while our Fairline Targa 33 was ashore we took the camper cover home and left the boat with a tonneau. We gave the cover a good clean and stored it in the garage. Now the covid restrictions are easing we've had the boat relaunched and tried to put the camper cover up again. The rear section can be tensioned by moving the support hoop but the forward section has press studs all the way round it. They're across the top of the windscreen and on the radar arch so there's no adjustment. Rather frustratingly this section seems about 25mm too small and despite our best efforts we can't persuade it to stretch far enough to reach the press studs.
Does anyone have a patented technique for stretching canopies? Or a clever way of introducing some stretch? I'm toying with the idea of replacing the press studs across the radar arch with hooks and putting eyelets and a stretchy cord at the top of the canopy.

 

[n.herring]

Try soaking it, you should be able to get it back but might take a lot of hard work, I would not mess with the fixings it will never be the same again.

 

[DougOut]

Try soaking it, you should be able to get it back but might take a lot of hard work, I would not mess with the fixings it will never be the same again.

Thanks for that. Think I'll try soaking it in warm water and hanging some weights from the bottom.

 

[andy59]

Canopies that dry undone/of the boat always seem to shrink a bit. best to soak them and then fit to the boat wet , if the studs are in a curve fix both sides and work to the middle. Good luck.

 

[madabouttheboat]

In my experience, once a canopy has shrunk, it becomes a real pain to live with. You can usually stretch them enough to get them back on, but it becomes a battle every time you need to do so. My last canopy was so bad I refused to remove it in the end. Got a whole new one now.

 

[Disassemble]

Over the winter while our Fairline Targa 33 was ashore we took the camper cover home and left the boat with a tonneau. We gave the cover a good clean and stored it in the garage. Now the covid restrictions are easing we've had the boat relaunched and tried to put the camper cover up again. The rear section can be tensioned by moving the support hoop but the forward section has press studs all the way round it. They're across the top of the windscreen and on the radar arch so there's no adjustment. Rather frustratingly this section seems about 25mm too small and despite our best efforts we can't persuade it to stretch far enough to reach the press studs.
Does anyone have a patented technique for stretching canopies? Or a clever way of introducing some stretch? I'm toying with the idea of replacing the press studs across the radar arch with hooks and putting eyelets and a stretchy cord at the top of the canopy.
[/QUOTE

Over the winter while our Fairline Targa 33 was ashore we took the camper cover home and left the boat with a tonneau. We gave the cover a good clean and stored it in the garage. Now the covid restrictions are easing we've had the boat relaunched and tried to put the camper cover up again. The rear section can be tensioned by moving the support hoop but the forward section has press studs all the way round it. They're across the top of the windscreen and on the radar arch so there's no adjustment. Rather frustratingly this section seems about 25mm too small and despite our best efforts we can't persuade it to stretch far enough to reach the press studs.
Does anyone have a patented technique for stretching canopies? Or a clever way of introducing some stretch? I'm toying with the idea of replacing the press studs across the radar arch with hooks and putting eyelets and a stretchy cord at the top of the canopy.

Over the winter while our Fairline Targa 33 was ashore we took the camper cover home and left the boat with a tonneau. We gave the cover a good clean and stored it in the garage. Now the covid restrictions are easing we've had the boat relaunched and tried to put the camper cover up again. The rear section can be tensioned by moving the support hoop but the forward section has press studs all the way round it. They're across the top of the windscreen and on the radar arch so there's no adjustment. Rather frustratingly this section seems about 25mm too small and despite our best efforts we can't persuade it to stretch far enough to reach the press studs.
Does anyone have a patented technique for stretching canopies? Or a clever way of introducing some stretch? I'm toying with the idea of replacing the press studs across the radar arch with hooks and putting eyelets and a stretchy cord at the top of the canopy.

personally I would not replace/exchange press studs for eyelets and bungees! Find a trimmer/ hood/canopy maker and replace the plastic windows as this is what shrinks. I would also have them go over all the original stitching and as you have already cleaned it spray it with a waterproofer like Fabsil and then you should get another few years use before needing a new one depending on whether your hood is canvas or pvc.

 

[BruceK]

As above soak then put on. Better yet tension it out insitu while using a steam cleaner.

 

[Andrew M]

Yep, another vote for wetting it, , I don't know the complete design of yours but I always go through the following process : hang all covers in place, put all shock cord bungees onto their fixings, start for a couple of inches all zips, fix all press studs, then go round systematically progressing with all zips bity by bit to help spread the tension and not put it all onto 1 zip at the end, window material can also harden and shrink so if you need to create a of flexibility or need a bit more "stretchyness" in the windows, warm each one up gently playing a hairdryer or heater over it, them using a sofa cushion gently push that into the material and it will help it gently expand.

 

[Bowlerhat]

I’d be interested in how you get on here. My covers shrunk and I have converted them using rubber bungee without issue. They originally fitted using reinforced holes in the canvass that secured over plastic studs in the GRP (i.e. not press studs, although similar to your situation in that there was no ‘give’). I’d hoped that keeping the covers on the boat in the rain would gradually stretch them under the influence of the bungee, but I can‘s say it has. I haven’t tried warm water and weights though. Gold luck!

 

[PlanB]

Thanks for that. Think I'll try soaking it in warm water and hanging some weights from the bottom.

Soak it and try to fit it while wet.

 

[DougOut]

Well, the consensus of opinion seems to be soak it. if I still can't it to stretch then I think I've got some S hooks and try fixing it at the top and hanging some weight from it.

 

[DougOut]

I went down to the boat yesterday to have a go at fitting the canopy. As we were walking from the car the heavens opened and we were soaked before we got to the boat. What is it about bad weather and boating? One bonus though was the canopy got a really, really good soaking!
Anyway, once it stopped we got started. Our first attempt involved using a ratchet strap to try and ease the canopy towards the pegs. Well, that didn't work. Anything thin enough to go through the lift-the-dot hole wasn't strong enough. Ok, onto plan B. Stop and have a cuppa. Plan C was devised and with me putting all of my weight into it (quite considerable I must add) pulling the canvas with a pair of pliers my brother was able to get the first lift-the-dot onto the peg! Repeating the process we managed to get the first section pulled and clipped down. The next one wasn't quite as easy and some of them were still too far to stretch. However, the canopy is finally up and a bit of luck will give a little bit more.
The problem is entirely down to the fact that there's no give. Ideally I'd like it to be a little looser for fitting but then have a method of tightening up.

 

[BruceK]

Now that it is more or less on I'd really try using a small steam cleaner and baby shampoo or conditioner to stretch it out further (1 tablespoon to a glass of water). We have a K-archer SC2 but you can pic up portable steam cleaners on Amazon for under 30 quid. You want to avoid having to struggle every time. Wash \ rub in the baby shampoo solution and then steam clean the fabric with the shampoo in.

 

[Hurricane]

I went down to the boat yesterday to have a go at fitting the canopy. As we were walking from the car the heavens opened and we were soaked before we got to the boat. What is it about bad weather and boating? One bonus though was the canopy got a really, really good soaking!
Anyway, once it stopped we got started. Our first attempt involved using a ratchet strap to try and ease the canopy towards the pegs. Well, that didn't work. Anything thin enough to go through the lift-the-dot hole wasn't strong enough. Ok, onto plan B. Stop and have a cuppa. Plan C was devised and with me putting all of my weight into it (quite considerable I must add) pulling the canvas with a pair of pliers my brother was able to get the first lift-the-dot onto the peg! Repeating the process we managed to get the first section pulled and clipped down. The next one wasn't quite as easy and some of them were still too far to stretch. However, the canopy is finally up and a bit of luck will give a little bit more.
The problem is entirely down to the fact that there's no give. Ideally I'd like it to be a little looser for fitting but then have a method of tightening up.

How old are the covers?

 

[Croftie]

Our first attempt involved using a ratchet strap to try and ease the canopy towards the pegs. Well, that didn't work. Anything thin enough to go through the lift-the-dot hole wasn't strong enough.

Agreed on that, I used a couple of pieces of wood either side of the canvas and held in place with G Cramp/s, nice and tight then pull on the cramp. Spreads the load and saves strain on the lift-the-dot hole.

 

[DougOut]

Now that it is more or less on I'd really try using a small steam cleaner and baby shampoo or conditioner to stretch it out further (1 tablespoon to a glass of water). We have a K-archer SC2 but you can pic up portable steam cleaners on Amazon for under 30 quid. You want to avoid having to struggle every time. Wash \ rub in the baby shampoo solution and then steam clean the fabric with the shampoo in.

Thanks Bruce,
I've been watching a Karcher on Ebay and it's only £30 with a few hours to go. Not sure about being seen heading down to the boat with the baby shampoo though!

 

[DougOut]

How old are the covers?

They're only a couple of years old and in really good nick. (Apart from being shrunken!)

 

[DougOut]

Agreed on that, I used a couple of pieces of wood either side of the canvas and held in place with G Cramp/s, nice and tight then pull on the cramp. Spreads the load and saves strain on the lift-the-dot hole.

Oh, that's a really good idea. Definitely going to give that a go

 

[BruceK]

Thanks Bruce,
I've been watching a Karcher on Ebay and it's only £30 with a few hours to go. Not sure about being seen heading down to the boat with the baby shampoo though!

The reason you have shrunk is the individual fibres kinked and curled and friction just like on any thread weave is preventing them from playing out. The baby shampoo or conditioner softens the fibres and lubricates them allowing them to slip past each other more easily. The steam cleaner also will soften and "de-kink "the fibres but doesnt lubricate them.

What we are doing essentially is an old wives trick for stretching out material like jeans. Shampoo and steam iron on a much larger scale.

(ever quietened the creak and squeak of your nylon mooring lines in a blow by using fairy liquid on the lines? Same principle again. Removing the friction of individual strands in the weave sliding over each other)

 

[Hurricane]

They're only a couple of years old and in really good nick. (Apart from being shrunken!)

Quite young then.
If they were old covers, you can understand it but not if they are only a couple of years old.

It will be interesting to hear if BruceK's steam and baby shampoo works.