Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

[paulspaddle]

Hey All, haven't posted in quite awhile....how was your winter?!

Still haven't put my new-to-me boat in the water yet this season. Weather has been lousy.

My covers for the boat are toast. I took it to a shop and they wanted $1500 to redo the two covers. (bow and cockpit)

Being a DIY'er I don't mind learning and taking something on. I bought the fabric, weaving, grommets and snaps. ($200) I've got the old ones as a template, my wife sews....how badly can I screw it up - right? (you don't really need to answer that)

Anyway, anyone done their own covers? Tips you can suggest from your experience that might save me an obvious mistake or grief?

Thanks!

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Here's one of the boat when I got it last October....with the help of a stateside member of iboats!!

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

Haven't posted since the new format. Is there a reason my pics didn't load? Using photobucket as the host.

 

[rbh]

Re: Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

Hey there Paul-
How was your Manitoba winter and flood season?

I can see the pics of the boat and snap/cover.

I think you are supposed to do alittle pre streaching, but there are lots of professional tarp guys here that should be able to help more than I can.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

I see your pics fine. Beautiful boat.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

I actually built a camper top for my boat, started with a bimini top and 2 boat covers and got some thisck window plastic at Wal Mart and started going, it was a major pain and I invented a couple new words but I have never once regreted doing it.

Here in nothern Indiana it doesn't get really nice until about now and gets cold again the end of September and the top extended my fishing season at least a month on either end of the year.

Oh, I used my wife Brother sewing machine fi oyu can imagine cramming a 12' wide top through a normal sewing machine, interesting to say the least.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

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[paulspaddle]

Re: Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

Ok...sorry....first time using this format and am making a few mistakes. (keep hitting "reply to thread" and loosing my response.

Thanks guys....Manitoba winter was good. Floods stink. River is way to high to use and they don't expect it to drop for another month. High water took out all my decks at the cabin....no insurance for stuff on the shore.

Thanks for the comment on the boat. I really like the lines of this one also. Hull, outdrive are near perfect. Interior is good, floor will need attention within 5 years. (we know what that means) First season with her so not sure what the performance is going to be like. Took it out once last October for an hour rip and all seemed decent.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

I actually built a camper top for my boat, started with a bimini top and 2 boat covers and got some thisck window plastic at Wal Mart and started going, it was a major pain and I invented a couple new words but I have never once regreted doing it.

Here in nothern Indiana it doesn't get really nice until about now and gets cold again the end of September and the top extended my fishing season at least a month on either end of the year.

Oh, I used my wife Brother sewing machine fi oyu can imagine cramming a 12' wide top through a normal sewing machine, interesting to say the least.

You sewed all that as a first time project?....pretty good!

The bulk of the material is questionable....you're right.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

I'm an upholsterer and I'll help any way I can. Here's a few tips to get you started:

1) Measure the overall amount of area you need to cover and add 6"-8" all the way around. Sew the majority of the canvas together first to create the rough cover size that you decided on.

2) Use chalk on the cover to mark all of your points. Start from the center and work outward. I recommend starting with the bow cover until you get the hang of what you're doing.

3) You will need either clamps, a helper, or snap tacks to ease the process. Snap tacks are snaps with needle like pins on the top that puncture thru the canvas. This not only holds it in place, but also marks where the snaps will ultimately end up.

4) After the center is secured in place, pull the canvas outward to one side and chalk off the perimeter of the cover. Repeat for the other side.

5) Sew 1" webbing arouns the perimeter of the canvas at your chalk lines. Cut off excess material. The snaps will go thru the webbing, reducing the strain on the material.

6) Purchase 3/4 binding in a matching color and bind the edges of the material/webbing. Alternately, you can add 1" extra fabric at your chalk line and fold it over, creating a hem.

7) Use nickel plated snaps to fight the corrosion. Apply a dab of chapstick to them and they won't stick on the snap.

To avoid large wrinkles, fold the material back on itself at that point and stitch down (creating a 'dart'). This will give a more professional look.

PM me if you need any pointers. Best of luck.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

Thanks for the tips Fireman.

Sounds like even though I have the old covers you would still do them from scratch off the boat?

 

[WINTERSUX]

Re: Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

I'm going to do this myself soon .. thanks for the tips Fireman..

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Tips? - Sew my own boat cover.

Yea, do them from scratch. The old cover is stretched out of shape, shrunken, or usually twisted. You can use it as a template to get the rough shape/size, but that's about it. I always found it easier to go from scratch, but I've been doing this a long time. If your cover is good enough, do whatever you like.