Boat cover for FourWinns Sundowner to use when towing

[Lpgc]

My '95 Sundowner 205 (believe made in 2006) has a green canvas cover for use when trailering that clips to the boat using press studs around the bottom of the screen and down each side of the boat, it uses elastic clips to tie to the rear of the boat. Around the edges of the cover where the press studs are there's a 2nd strip of white thicker canvas (or some other material) which seems to be there to strengthen it. Just to be clear, the strip of white material isn't outside the area of green canvas, they are fixed together so it's like a double thickness of material for strength around the edge and where the press studs are. The problem is that the stitching that held the white material to the green has fallen to bits making the cover unusable. I think the cover would be worth saving if I could find someone to re-attach the white strip with the press studs to the green canvas, or if I could re-attach / sew it back together myself. I'd rather not buy a new one and even if I could buy a new one I think it'd be difficult to find one that'd fit as well as this which I expect is the original trailer cover.

My questions are: What's involved in sewing it back on, would I need to use a special sewing machine? Is it possible/viable to hand-stitch? Any ways other than sewing to put it back on? Where would I get another cover? I'm in the UK but if I did decide to bite the bullet and buy a new one I might get a US firm to send me one if I can't buy one here, especially if that meant I could buy one that'd fit as well as this original.

As said the cover fits using press-studs along the bottom of the screen and down the sides, I know I could buy a generic cover or supposedly custom fit cover that would also cover the front of the boat forward of the windscreen, maybe an advantage for keeping it clean and UV protection during towing and storing the boat outdoors during the season but a pita having to tie such cover to the trailer etc compared to the easy on/off of the press studs. Still worth asking if there's a particular cover that covers the full length of the boat that suits this boat even if I do have to tie it to the trailer along the sides?

Sorry if some terminology didn't make much sense, not sure what to call this type of cover that's only used during trailering or storing the boat. I nearly said trailer cover but I didn't know if that'd be interpreted as a cover for just the trailer hehe.

 

[Scott Danforth]

visit your local canvas shop

 

[garbageguy]

suggest no cover at all DURING towing, avoids any cover seeing high wind speeds

sounds like you are talking about a reinforced cockpit cover

then there's mooring covers that can be used when the boat is sitting on a trailer that is not being towed at higher speeds

 

[Earl Cordova]

I tried towing with the cover on when we purchased our boat new.
After it flying off for the third time I gave up on that.

If your old cover stayed on and you want to repair it youself you will need an industrial sewing machine.
Otherwise do as previously mentioned and find a good canvas shop.

You won't find a ready made cover anywhere for a boat that old.
Your only choice is to have one custom made by a good canvas shop.

 

[bowler]

Get an old singer 201k sewing machine. I picked up one of Ebay for 30 quid (40 dollars) and it has helped me make many repairs to boat covers and canvas. That includes sewing new windows into a canvas cockpit cover. The machine is quite remarkable given the fact it was made in 1941!

 

[Lpgc]

I didn't expect to get a new one off a shelf but thought maybe some US manufacturers keep drawings / dimensions of covers for old boats and could make a cover to fit as good as the original.

I'll phone around more canvas shops but last year when I enquired they all seemed to have waiting long waiting lists. I can see spring coming around and wanting to use the boat but not having a cover ready unless I fix the cover I have myself.

This cover used to be OK during towing, kept checking the mirror but it seemed secure. I think it would've remained OK if it wasn't for the stitches falling apart, weakened by age and sun damaged but running it through the washing machine was probably the thing that did the most damage to the old stitches, think it would've been OK if the stitching was in good condition.

My grandma used to use an old Singer sewing machine and there were a few in dad's cellar when I was a kid, probably because one of his first jobs after leaving school was maintaining them for a local clothing manufacturer. Dad's dead but I'm still in touch with his friend who he met doing the same job, the friend went on to have his own engineering company designing and making many types of bespoke industrial machines.. If I bought an old sewing machine and it had any problems I wouldn't try to fix it myself before asking him how to fix it, in fact I'd ask his advice before buying one. It probably helps that the friend was a boater too so he might have some ideas about the canvas etc, not long before dad died they sailed his yacht from Spain to England via the channel islands in rough sees.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I didn't expect to get a new one off a shelf but thought maybe some US manufacturers keep drawings / dimensions of covers for old boats and could make a cover to fit as good as the original.

companies like Great Lakes Boat top and Dowco would have the patterns if they made the cover originally. however the snap locations and any fitments have to be put in by you since those locations were done on the boat assembly line with a kit that was provided.

The usual wait time for aftermarket 1-off sales from the OEM canvas shops is about 3-4 months.

hence the suggestion to see your local canvas shop. not only will it fit equally as good, if not better than original. they do all the work and you can get it in a shorter time for about the same amount of money.

 

[Pmt133]

You'd have to get pretty lucky for that. My friend does OE for a few manufacturers and he has said multiple times you're better off just having someone come measure and make it.

 

[Lpgc]

I just called my dads old friend. He's been retired several years now but the company he started a long time ago that makes industrial machines is still doing well and he's still involved with it.

I only called him for advice about buying an old sewing machine and how to sew canvas. He said "Don't buy a sewing machine, I'll pick your boat cover up and have my company fix it for you for free"!

I didn't know his company did sewing machines or was involved in sewing, I thought they mostly made one-off machines for industry, kitchen equipment and dry cleaning. He said they also make industrial pressing machines and have some industrial sewing machines because they also make canvas covers for machinery, he would've kept some sewing machines anyway because he had the company fix his own boat covers.

Told him I'd have to insist I paid for it to be fixed, I didn't know it was something he or his company could still do and I wasn't trying to get a freeby by going to him. I asked how much they'd usually charge for fixing the cover, his wife chipped in "About £5k Simon lol". He said "You better not bloody well try to pay me or I'll kick your arse" lol. If he won't accept payment I'll buy him a bottle of whisky or something. Last time we met I told him I'd have to take him for a ride up the river in summer. Be meeting him again on Saturday anyway, my mum's surprise 80th birthday party, he said bring the cover.

 

[bakerjw]

Kind of in the same boat as you. The stitching in my bimini cover is rotting out. I've fixed it here and there but it has gotten to the point where I need to remake one using the old one as the pattern. No one makes this size of cover so, It's on me.
FWIW. I've sewn heavy duty cycling bags, dresses, nightgowns and much more. Sewing is just like welding, carpentry, metalwork, etc... Just using cloth.
I made all of these bags for our custom mountain tandem bike.

 

[Lou C]

My canvas guy was an older guy who worked out of his house here in Long Island, really nice guy I'd bring him my mooring covers every few years and he would not take any money for re-sewing the seams, so I'd bring him bags of Dunkin Donuts coffee which he loved. He made the cover for me in 2003 and had fixed it every few years. I tried calling and his number is disconnected and when I drove by his house it was all done over, I guess he retired/moved, used to have fun talking to him while he stitched up the cover, now gotta find another guy!
Cover looks pretty good for being 22 years old...

 

[Earl Cordova]

We had a canvas guy that was great and reasonable priced working out of his garage.
Then a couple of years ago his prices increased about 500%.

 

[bakerjw]

My retire neighbor has a lot of top tier woodworking equipment and makes outstanding cabinets. He always gets tied down with custom jobs when he has other things to do. I told him once that he needs to just double his rate so he gets less business.
Could have been the same for your canvas guy.