• Home
  • Shopping
    • Boat Seats
    • Chartplotters
    • Dock & Boat Cleats
    • Dock Lines
    • Dry Bags
    • Fenders
    • Fender Cleats & Holders
    • Fender Covers
    • Fishfinders
    • Handheld GPS Units
    • Inflatable Dinghies
    • Kayaks
    • Kayak Paddles
    • KeelGuard Keel Protectors
    • Pelican Waterproof Marine Boxes
    • PFDs — Adult
    • PFDs — Children’s
    • PFDs — Dogs
    • PFDs — Infant
    • Propellers
      • Left-Hand Propellers
      • Right-Hand Propellers
      • Stainless Steel Propellers
  • Archives
  • About Tom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Favorite Links

Tropical Boating

Stories about Boats and Boating

  • Sailing
    • Races & Regattas
    • Sailboat Cruising
    • Sailboat Reviews
  • Powerboating
  • Kayaking
  • Fishing
  • Boat Handling
  • Repairs & Upgrades
  • Equipment & Gear
    • Dinghies
  • Boat Building
  • Boating Fun
  • Boating Safety
  • General
    • Trail Camera Pictures
You are here: Home / Boating Equipment / Caring for Marine Canvas Covers and Isinglass

Caring for Marine Canvas Covers and Isinglass

September 24, 2007 By Tom 2 Comments

Canvas covers, bimini tops and dodgers don't last very long in the tropical sun and salt environment, but there are some things you can do to prolong their life.

Snap-on canvas covers protect the isinglass on the Catalina 309

The Catalina 309 dodger and bimini package comes with snap-on canvas covers to protect the isinglass.

Marine Canvas Enemy #1

The biggest enemy of marine canvas, even quality UV resistant canvas cloth such as Sunbrella, is the sun. If you are using a good canvas cloth, make sure that your canvas is stitched with a quality UV resistant thread. I have seen perfectly good 2-year-old canvas falling off the frames because the thread holding everything together was shot. At that point, the canvas cloth still had some life left in it, but probably not enough to justify restitching the old canvas. It was time to get a new Bimini top and dodger, at a cost of several thousand dollars, all because cheap thread was used.

When a Bimini top or dodger is not in use, it is a good idea to remove the canvas from the boat and store it indoors. If that is not practical, fold it up and cover it with a canvas cover. If the canvas is left up in order to protect the boat from the sun when the boat is not being used, it will deteriorate over time, but there are still ways to protect it from degradation by the sun. There are spray-on canvas waterproofing products that provide some protection, similar to the way wax protects gelcoat or paint from the sun and the oxygen in the air.

Isinglass Care

Isinglass will break down in the sun faster than Sunbrella marine canvas cloth, and needs special protection. The new Catalina 309 Bimini top and dodger combination package comes with canvas covers that snap on over the dodger isinglass to protect it from the sun when not in use. (See photo above left.) This is also useful to block the sun when at anchor in the morning or evening hours when it comes under the edge of the Bimini top.

Isinglass Enemy #1

Isinglass is easily scratched by salt crystals, so do not wipe salt off of it. Rinse the isinglass off thoroughly, then wipe with a chamois cloth to remove water spots. Isinglass should not be folded if it can be avoided. It is best to roll it up for storage, preferably with a towel or paper rolled in to keep it from scratching itself.

Protecting Snaps, Zippers, and Other Attachments

The snaps, zippers, and other attachments on boat canvas tend to freeze up if they are left unused for any length of time in the salt air. Bimini top zippers are made to deflect water, and the button snaps are a little ring inside a cup, also good at deflecting water. That's good when you are using them at sea, but remember that even if you hit the canvas with a hose for long enough to rinse the salt off the canvas itself, you probably did not hit each and every fitting sufficiently to get water inside and rinse away any salt that got inside. Think about how the fittings are put together when you hose them, and direct a stream of water at them in a direction that will rinse out the salt.

When the snaps on a Bimini top or dodger are not going to be used for a while, it is a good idea to lubricate them with a corrosion inhibiting oil such as Boeshield T-9. The little ring inside the cup on the snaps will eventually corrode in place and get stuck inside, making the snap impossible to remove without damage. If you coat it with a light coat of oil a couple of times a year, it will always unsnap with ease. If one corrodes and gets stuck, try soaking it with oil and tapping on it, then come back in an hour to try again.

The zippers on marine canvas can also get stuck, even if they are made completely of plastic. The ones with an aluminum zipper head are susceptible to getting stuffed with white oxidation material as the aluminum inside holds salt and corrodes. I use T-9 on those as well. On the all-plastic ones, where even the zipper head is plastic, I use plastic zipper lube or silicon spray lubricant or Armor All, which is slippery and protects them at the same time.

Proper Care of Your Boat Canvas Will Prolong Its Useful Life

Do what you can about the sun and the salt, and your marine canvas should give you at least 5 years of service in the tropical seas. If it lasts longer, you are doing a great job — or not using your boat enough.

Filed Under: Boating Equipment Tagged With: canvas covers, isinglass

Comments

  1. Kym says

    May 16, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    I need help , when I boat top was being waterproofef , there was alot of over spray on my vinyl windows,and it dried before I saw it, what can be used to clean the water proofing off my windows ?? Thank you for any help you can give. Kym O

    Log in to Reply
  2. Birdsall Marine Design Products says

    December 3, 2015 at 10:08 pm

    A very good article about boat covers which is a vital investment for every boat owner to make. Its good to know that there are different options for people who have their own boat and need to buy suitable protection.

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Newer: Hobie Mirage Adventure Island: Her Review
Older: What Use Is A Dead Trolling Motor?

Recent Posts

  • ePropulsion Electric Outboard On A Picnic Cat
  • Com-Pac Picnic Cat Fun!
  • Selling the Stray Goat
  • June 2021 Stray Goat Projects
  • Finishing Up & First Sail in the Stray Goat

Topics

  • Boat Building (5)
  • Boat Handling (10)
  • Boat Repairs & Upgrades (49)
  • Boating Equipment (27)
    • Dinghies (4)
  • Boating Fun (29)
  • Boating Safety (7)
  • Buying & Selling Boats (5)
  • Classic Boating Tales (25)
  • Fishing (16)
  • General (37)
    • Drone Stuff (3)
    • Trail Camera Pictures (18)
    • Tropical Fruiting (1)
  • Kayaking (21)
  • Powerboating (17)
  • Sailing (71)
    • Races & Regattas (14)
    • Sailboat Cruising (15)
    • Sailboat Reviews (7)

Most Popular

  • The Perfect Solo Mast-Raising System for Small Sailboats
  • How to Dock an Outboard or Sterndrive Powerboat in 3 Easy Pictures
  • Small Outboard Engine Tilt and Trim: Theory and Practice
  • Tying Boats to Docks Using Springlines
  • Deep V, Shallow V, or Variable Deadrise Hull Performance

Shopping

  • Anchors
  • Boat Paddles
  • Boat Seats
  • Cam Cleats
  • Dock & Boat Cleats
  • Dock Lines
  • Dry Bags
  • Fenders
  • Fender Cleats & Holders
  • Fender Covers
  • Fishing
    • Fishing Reels
      • Spinning Reels
        • Abu Garcia Spinning Reels
        • Daiwa Spinning Reels
        • KastKing Spinning Reels
        • Okuma Spinning Reels
        • Penn Spinning Reels
        • Pflueger Spinning Reels
        • Quantum Spinning Reels
        • Shakespeare Spinning Reels
        • Shimano Spinning Reels
        • Zebco Spinning Reels
      • Baitcasting Reels
      • Spincast Reels
    • Rod & Reel Combos
      • Abu Garcia Rod & Reel Combos
      • Baitcast Rod & Reel Combos
      • Okuma Rod & Reel Combos
      • Quantum Rod & Reel Combos
      • Shakespeare Rod & Reel Combos
      • Spinning Rod & Reel Combos
      • Ugly Stik Rod & Reel Combos
    • Tackle Boxes & Bags
      • Tackle Bags
      • Tackle Boxes
      • Fly Boxes
      • Fishing Backpacks
  • Inflatable Dinghies
  • Inflatable Kayaks
  • Inflatable SUPs
  • Kayaks
  • Kayak Paddles
  • KeelGuard Keel Protectors
  • Marine Electronics
    • Autopilots
    • Chartplotters
    • EPIRBs
    • Fishfinders
    • Fixed-Mount VHF Radios
    • Handheld GPS Units
    • Handheld VHF Radios
  • Pelican Waterproof Marine Boxes
  • PFDs
    • Fishing PFDs
    • Inflatable PFDs
    • Kayaking PFDs
    • Survival PFDs
    • Survival Suits & Immersion Suits
    • PFDs for Infants
    • PFDs for Children
    • PFDs for Adults
    • PFDs for Dogs
    • Throwable (Type IV) PFDs
  • Propellers
    • Right-Hand Propellers
    • Left-Hand Propellers
    • Aluminum Propellers
    • Stainless Steel Propellers
    • Three-Blade Propellers
    • Four-Blade Propellers

Recent

  • ePropulsion Electric Outboard On A Picnic Cat
  • Com-Pac Picnic Cat Fun!
  • Selling the Stray Goat
  • June 2021 Stray Goat Projects
  • Finishing Up & First Sail in the Stray Goat

Popular

  • The Perfect Solo Mast-Raising System for Small Sailboats
  • How to Dock an Outboard or Sterndrive Powerboat in 3 Easy Pictures
  • Small Outboard Engine Tilt and Trim: Theory and Practice
  • Tying Boats to Docks Using Springlines
  • Deep V, Shallow V, or Variable Deadrise Hull Performance
  • The Com-Pac Sun Cat: A Review
  • Building a Live Bait Well For A Small Boat
  • Choosing the Right Propeller For Your Boat
  • Rebuilding Whaleboat Tenders Part 5: Boat Parts Shopping Day
  • More Boston Whaler Modifications

About Tom

Starting with the little two-person inflatable raft I had as my very first boat, I have always loved the freedom and the feeling of being out on the water. With my father's help, I added a hard plywood floor to that little inflatable, and that was the beginning of a long chain of boats I have owned, loved, maintained, modified, fixed, enjoyed, and scared myself to death on over the past few decades. [Read More …]

Topics

  • Boat Building (5)
  • Boat Handling (10)
  • Boat Repairs & Upgrades (49)
  • Boating Equipment (27)
    • Dinghies (4)
  • Boating Fun (29)
  • Boating Safety (7)
  • Buying & Selling Boats (5)
  • Classic Boating Tales (25)
  • Fishing (16)
  • General (37)
    • Drone Stuff (3)
    • Trail Camera Pictures (18)
    • Tropical Fruiting (1)
  • Kayaking (21)
  • Powerboating (17)
  • Sailing (71)
    • Races & Regattas (14)
    • Sailboat Cruising (15)
    • Sailboat Reviews (7)

Links

  • Antique Fishing Tackle
  • Big Air Wakeboards
  • Binocular Bargains
  • Boat Parts Online
  • Boat Seats for Sale
  • Boat Wear Bargains
  • Boating Memorabilia
  • Discount Marine Electronics
  • Ice Fishing Shop
  • Maritime Antiques
  • Nautical Motif Gifts & Decor
  • Slingin' Steel Spearfishing Bargains
  • Sun Cat National Championship Regatta
  • Tropical Affiliate Marketing
  • Tropical Web Works
  • Tying Flies

Shopping

  • Anchors
  • Boat Paddles
  • Boat Seats
  • Cam Cleats
  • Dock & Boat Cleats
  • Dock Lines
  • Dry Bags
  • Fenders
  • Fender Cleats & Holders
  • Fender Covers
  • Fishing
    • Fishing Reels
      • Spinning Reels
        • Abu Garcia Spinning Reels
        • Daiwa Spinning Reels
        • KastKing Spinning Reels
        • Okuma Spinning Reels
        • Penn Spinning Reels
        • Pflueger Spinning Reels
        • Quantum Spinning Reels
        • Shakespeare Spinning Reels
        • Shimano Spinning Reels
        • Zebco Spinning Reels
      • Baitcasting Reels
      • Spincast Reels
    • Rod & Reel Combos
      • Abu Garcia Rod & Reel Combos
      • Baitcast Rod & Reel Combos
      • Okuma Rod & Reel Combos
      • Quantum Rod & Reel Combos
      • Shakespeare Rod & Reel Combos
      • Spinning Rod & Reel Combos
      • Ugly Stik Rod & Reel Combos
    • Tackle Boxes & Bags
      • Tackle Bags
      • Tackle Boxes
      • Fly Boxes
      • Fishing Backpacks
  • Inflatable Dinghies
  • Inflatable Kayaks
  • Inflatable SUPs
  • Kayaks
  • Kayak Paddles
  • KeelGuard Keel Protectors
  • Marine Electronics
    • Autopilots
    • Chartplotters
    • EPIRBs
    • Fishfinders
    • Fixed-Mount VHF Radios
    • Handheld GPS Units
    • Handheld VHF Radios
  • Pelican Waterproof Marine Boxes
  • PFDs
    • Fishing PFDs
    • Inflatable PFDs
    • Kayaking PFDs
    • Survival PFDs
    • Survival Suits & Immersion Suits
    • PFDs for Infants
    • PFDs for Children
    • PFDs for Adults
    • PFDs for Dogs
    • Throwable (Type IV) PFDs
  • Propellers
    • Right-Hand Propellers
    • Left-Hand Propellers
    • Aluminum Propellers
    • Stainless Steel Propellers
    • Three-Blade Propellers
    • Four-Blade Propellers

Back to Top
Contact Us · Privacy Policy & Disclosure

Copyright © 2007-2023 · Tropical Boating
Site managed by Tropical Web Works