Chaparral canvas

[captainzac]

Does anyone know who makes the canvas products for Chaparral?

Harry

 

[jkust]

Re: Chaparral canvas

I haven't looked at the tags on mine for a while but it's either sharkskin or sunbrella. Any canva shop can make any cover for you using any of the many products out there. I was looking at having a custom travel cover made for my Chap and for some reason all the local shops I called universally disliked Sunbrella. It was strange since their ads make it seem as though they are top of the heap.

 

[1fishbone]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Almost any shop can make what you need.
Some will have made for that model/style and have an EXACT fitting product.

Don't use Sunbrella...look a the price it tells all!
It's the cheapest for a reason.

 

[lkbum]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Sunbrella is used on my 2001 280 SSi. I would think the shops don't like it as it is usually the highest price fabirc and would provide the shop with the least amount of margin on their work. I've been boating for 30 years, I've had various Vinyl, "Sharkskin", Acrylic and Canvas tops and and covers. Nothing I've used is as durable as Sunbrella. If you compare covers, Sunbrella is always listed as the most expensive. For my boat, sharkskin runs $390 to $470 depending on grade, Sunbrella is $660. See link http://boatcovers.iboats.com/Chaparral/280_SSi_(2000-2003)/?**********=557825218&*******=584427141

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Chaparral canvas

(from your local neighborhood upholsterer)

Sunbrella is a trade name placed on the canvas that they purchase from the mills and distribute. The same material is also available under the names of Dickson Marine, Tempo, Starfire, Pyrotone, Sunbrella, Polaris, Suncoat, Polyolifin and Top Gun.

There are only so many mills and they sell to all suppliers. Sunbrella tends to carry more patterns of the canvas as their customer base seems to cater to more of the outdoor furniture crowd. When comparing materials, look at the ounce weight and the material make-up (75% cotton/25% poly, etc). This way, you're comparing apples to apples.

 

[captainzac]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Thanks for the replies Buttttttt

I did a bad job of explaining what I want
I was wondering who manufactures the Biminis, side curtains ECT.
for Chap?
I want to add side curtains and isinglass to factory bimini.
local shops are not adequate in our town


My friend?s searay has a manufactures tag on it
wandering if anyone has noticed one on a Chap


Harry

 

[shrew]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Thanks for the replies Buttttttt

I did a bad job of explaining what I want
I was wondering who manufactures the Biminis, side curtains ECT.
for Chap?
I want to add side curtains and isinglass to factory bimini.
local shops are not adequate in our town


My friend?s searay has a manufactures tag on it
wandering if anyone has noticed one on a Chap

Almost any shop can make what you need.
Some will have made for that model/style and have an EXACT fitting product.

If you're looking for OEM, your best bet would be to find a dealer and see if there is still OEM parts still in stock for your year/make/model. Maybe, maybe not. Your best bet is to call a canvas place in your area and have them come out and make one for you. That is what most people do when it comds time to replace the existing canvas and isinglass. all teh canvas guys do the canvas tops and the isinglass curtains. This is a better option in my opinion, since you can get them to do anything you want (e.g. put in extra zippers and smiles, screens, etc).

Don't use Sunbrella...look a the price it tells all!
It's the cheapest for a reason.

That is interesting. I have never heard that before. In fact, I have always been under the impression it was the exact opposite. Expensive yet one of the best products in the market space.

Do you have examples of a product better than sunbrella?

 

[lkbum]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Harry,
I'd call the factory direct. Their number is on their website, I've called them a couple of times over the years and they usually get back in a day or so. Depending on the year of your boat, they may have a jig they used for rigging the canvas on the boat. The only tag on my canvas is Sunbrella....

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Does anyone know who makes the canvas products for Chaparral?

Harry

Harry,

My boat is in my avatar and signature. I'm not the original owner so I don't know whether or not the convertable top is original equipment. It is made by Spenco. If I remember correctly, they're in Florida. I'll look at the label in the morning, when I go home (I work nights). The top has zippers all around which means there may have been side and rear panels; but as there are no snaps on my hull, they were probably just an option. I'll put a couple pictures of it in the next post. Hope this helps.

Safe and happy boating always!!!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Does anyone know who makes the canvas products for Chaparral?

Harry

Spenco made my 1997's as well.

But as stated, have it custom made by a good shop.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Chaparral canvas

...I want to add side curtains and isinglass to factory bimini.
local shops are not adequate in our town

...
Harry

It won't fit properly. They don't fit from the factory, and every boat is just a little different. My 97 2135 had side curtains, and a rear camper top.
They would go on, but they didn't fit great. There was always a gap between one side curtain and the front windscreen. And the rear camper was too big, it drooped. My dad's Sig 27 and Sig 300 both had similiar issues. Especially the side curtains. He had a shop in Lakeland, FL make his sides and rear camper for his 265 cuddy, and they fit perfectly.

CUSTOM MADE is the BEST way to go.

So get your boat to a town that does have an adequate shop.

And whoever said Sunbrella is not good and the cheapest, I am sorry, you don't know boat canvas. Or you work for a direct competitor. It's the best.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Chaparral canvas

It won't fit properly. They don't fit from the factory, and every boat is just a little different. My 97 2135 had side curtains, and a rear camper top.
They would go on, but they didn't fit great. There was always a gap between one side curtain and the front windscreen. And the rear camper was too big, it drooped. My dad's Sig 27 and Sig 300 both had similiar issues. Especially the side curtains. He had a shop in Lakeland, FL make his sides and rear camper for his 265 cuddy, and they fit perfectly.

CUSTOM MADE is the BEST way to go.

So get your boat to a town that does have an adequate shop.

And whoever said Sunbrella is not good and the cheapest, I am sorry, you don't know boat canvas. Or you work for a direct competitor. It's the best.

Ayuh,... Man,... Life is gettin' pretty Scary,...

If I'd posted my thoughts, a couple posts higher in this thread,...
It'd read Word, for Word to what ya just posted there Willy,....

 

[shrew]

Re: Chaparral canvas

And whoever said Sunbrella is not good and the cheapest, I am sorry, you don't know boat canvas. Or you work for a direct competitor. It's the best.

That was my impression as well. Every decent canvas person in my area uses Sunbrella with the proper UV resistant thread. My canvas guy won't use anything other than Sunbrella.

I'd be curious if there are any canvas guys here (not directly affiliated with Sunbrella or a competitor) who could weigh in with a non-biased opinion.

And on the factory bought isinglass. The PO of my boat bought some replacement curtains from the factory. They were still in the box when i bought the boat. They shipped without the snaps connected to the bottom for the same reason as TilliamWE metioned, they can't pre-fab to fit without measuring the boat. They expect that you'll install the snaps based on where the snaps are afixed to the windshield and boat during installation. So it will still need some 'semi-custom' fitting anyway. I hired a guy to make some curtains with Stataglass for the heavier mil and custom install. It's not as expensive as you think and the fit should be perfect if the canvas guy is good.

Take a walk down any dock at a busy marina and ask a few folks with older boats and newer canvas who they used and recommend. Talk to the shop at any marina about who they'd recommend. The boating industry is a small one and is comprised of a series of local business people. They tend to all know each other. If they are in a non-competing business (e.g. a mechanic who can recommend a god canvas guy, for example) they're usually happy to make recommendations.

 

[The Great Escape II]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Thanks for the replies Buttttttt

I did a bad job of explaining what I want
I was wondering who manufactures the Biminis, side curtains ECT.
for Chap?
I want to add side curtains and isinglass to factory bimini.
local shops are not adequate in our town


My friend?s searay has a manufactures tag on it
wandering if anyone has noticed one on a Chap


Harry

Taylor Made makes their tops, using Sunbrella fabric.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Ayuh,... Man,... Life is gettin' pretty Scary,...

If I'd posted my thoughts, a couple posts higher in this thread,...
It'd read Word, for Word to what ya just posted there Willy,....

Deranged minds think alike?

(It would be real scary if DonS posted the same exact thing. I might have to have my eyes checked after that one!)

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Chaparral canvas

I'd be curious if there are any canvas guys here (not directly affiliated with Sunbrella or a competitor) who could weigh in with a non-biased opinion.

I'm an upholsterer and have had my own shop for 18 years. I do custom boat tops (around 6-7 per year. Please reread post #5.

As stated, use a quality canvas with UVR thread and nickle hardware and you'll be fine. If there are no quality shops around you, go somewhere that there are.

 

[MainShip36]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Every shop I talked to here also recommends Sunbrella from the least expensive to the most.

I am getting the back of my boat enclosed next week with Sunbrella. I will post some photos when it is done.

Don't skimp on canvas and zippers, pay a little more now and have it last many more years.

And don't forget to take care of your top when it is done.

 

[MainShip36]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Below are some photos I took today of the new top. They stil have to put a zipper down the middle, but they left it on today because it was going to rain all day.

The work looks great and it did rain all day. I was working in the engine compartment under the cover while it was pouring out and I was nice and dry.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Mainship 36 -- some people will undoubtedly comment about the 'slop' in the cover, meaning the looseness of it. Just to let you know, that will disappear within the first year due to heat/cooling of the canvas, which leads to stretching and shrinking. It looks as though they have allowed a bit more room than really necessary, but you won't have problems with the cover fitting in 2 years like others.

 

[MainShip36]

Re: Chaparral canvas

Mainship 36 -- some people will undoubtedly comment about the 'slop' in the cover, meaning the looseness of it. Just to let you know, that will disappear within the first year due to heat/cooling of the canvas, which leads to stretching and shrinking. It looks as though they have allowed a bit more room than really necessary, but you won't have problems with the cover fitting in 2 years like others.

Part of the slop is because he just finished putting the snaps on the port side when I took the photo. After that, he finished the snaps on the other side.

The inside photo shows more slop because the bottom is not pulled and snapped.

They are also putting in a zipper down the center, so I a not sure if that will effect it. I will post some updated photos next week after the zipper in in and it is all finished.