So you have decided you are going to have a boat top made, but how do you know what kind material to use and how can you be sure you are going to get a product that will last?
Well the first step is to find a reputable upholsterer who specializes in marine upholstery services. They will be able to point you in the right direction. One very important thing is to start with the correct thread. T-90 bonded polyester thread or heavier with uvr resistance is the most common type used. It is easy for some one to mistakenly use nylon thread knowing its initial strength is greater then polyester but unfortunately if it is exposed to the element it's breaks down fast causeing costly repairs. Even with the use of the correct thread it is not uncommon for the canvas to outlast the stitching requiring repairs as long as a high quality canvas is used.
One option you may want to consider is to request thread that is garunteed by the manufacturer to last the full life of its use. This will certianly cost a little more initially because the thread is very expensive, but it will save you down the road and be more cost effective in the long run.
The next important step is to pick the canvas to suit your needs. The best known brand of boat topping is easily Sunbrella. Sunbrella is certianly an excellent quality marine cover material but is not always going to be the best option. The biggest thing Sunbrellas is know for is its color retention. It resists fading very well. It is also light weight making it easy to handle (install, store, etc). However it does have a tendency to stretch out over time, especially if it has snow or water loads to carry. It also has another weak point being just that, it is not the greatest at resisting abrasion wear and load tears. This will require the canvas worker to spend more time reinforcing trouble areas and the extra time and material will lead to a higher initial cost but when done right and cared for properly will often give you the biggest bang for your buck over Sunbrellas long life expectancy. Another bonus of going with the Sunbrella is if you ever decide to sell your investment (boat), potential boaters will be comforted knowing it has a custom top made out of Sunbrella. There are many other high quality topping materials but everybody finds comfort in a well known brand name and the others have not been around as long or branded as well as Sunbrella.
A boat cover that will see lots of wear and abuse (for example a boat cover that is intended for use while being trailered) wil require a stronger material. One specific canvas that I like for such applications to Top Notch. It also has good fade resistance and is among the strongest of marine cover materials.
Like all topics there is a ton more to expand on but we'll keep it to a readable length and hopefully follow up with a part 2 sometime in the not toooo distant future!
Isaac
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