King Marine Canvas

lloyds · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject: King Marine Canvas

Back in march I put out the money for the camperback for my 16' cruiser. I certainly am not complaining about the service or quality of the work, but I am tempted to go back for another fitting. There is no way I can erect the canvas from inside the cockpit. Everything is too tight. I thought it might stretch just a little over time but that hasn't happened. Another thing that surprised me was the substantial gaps at the corners. I had envisioned canvase that was relatively fly and mosquito proof. I know how bad they can be up in the Broughtons. Has anyone else had problems like this with their canvas?

jkidd · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject:

On another boat I had the canvas was so tight I felt the way you do. I found a tool looks like a putty knife with a bend in it and has a slot for the snap. You can slip it on the snap from the inside and get lots of leverage works great. Temperature has a lot to do with it. If the tool doesn't work you trim a little off of the SS tube on the bimini. You can also loosen the set screws and make some adjustments as well. I got the tool at Overton's but I think WM has them too. Here's a link.
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=72146&pdesc=Top_Snapper&str=snap&merchID=1008&r=view

journey on · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject:

King canvas supplied the cockpit enclosure for Journey On, and it fit well. So, it certainly seems reasonable to take it back and point out the gaps. OK, if you want it to work, it seems mandatory. By the way, no mosquitoes in the Broughtons until after dark as far as we could tell.

Next, snapping the snaps is a bear from either the outside or inside. I bought a

Top Snapper Snap Tool
Item #: 753183
Manufacturer: IRONWOOD
Model #: 008.1

from Defender, $20 plus shipping, and it works well.

Boris

thataway · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:04 pm Post subject:

I ordered a King Canvas camper back for the C Dory 25. In comparison to the one I had built locally, it was lacking. The edges were not as well finished, there were gaps, the quality of the clear vinly was inferior. The fit was not as good as I would have liked. Personally I would always go with a local canvas shop. For about the same price, the local canvas worker came to the boat a number of times and made sure that the cover fit perfectly. 3 1/2 years later it still fits well and looks like new.

lloyds · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:57 pm Post subject:

I am going to see about taking it back and giving Dave a chance to fix it. I had a gut feeling that I ignored.

helm · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:27 pm Post subject:

We are really happy with the Camperback that King Marine Canvas made for Chack Chack, great fit and finish. You might try spraying some BoeShield on your snaps - makes them much easier to pop on.
Eric

Pat Anderson · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:51 pm Post subject:

We went to find Canvas Makers to make a camperback for our 16 Angler, couldn't find them, so went to King Marine. I personally was really disappointed, but it was mostly our fault by not explaining well what we wanted. Ours also was WAY too tight (how the hell does he think folks are going to get the damn snaps snapped?) - but that is easy to solve by getting out your Allen wrenches and adjusting the frame so the canvas is looser. Believe me, if I can figure this out, you can too! But bottom line, next time we will be looking elsewhere...King Marine won't be getting anymore of our business...

DaveS · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 1:28 am Post subject:

colobear · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:39 am Post subject:

Canvasriggers split up a couple of years ago and the one guy set up a business near twin bridges. I remember being told (can't recall who said this) that he has now gone out of business as well.

King Marine Canvas was for a while the supplier used by the factory for canvas for new boats. My canvas was done there (for Casey) and came to me after Casey was dissatisfied with the fit. There are some gaps at the front and rear corners that would make me very unhappy if I lived in buggy country but up here in the PNW they have been inconsequential. Comparing my canvas to others, mine does not seem to look as good or fit as well as some. I would probably look for another supplier were I in the market for new canvas. But...Dave has been very helpful and easy to deal with.

As far as tightness goes, there are lubricants for the snaps themselves that make snapping/unsnapping much easier and there are adjustments on the frame of the canvas by way of the sliding bracket for the forward overhead arch portion of the frame. The bracket/arch is held in place by an allen screw. Loosening that screw allows one to slide the bracket up or down. Doing that makes very substantial changes in the fit as far as tightness and smoothness is concerned.

Grumpy · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:39 am Post subject:

Dave,

Last I heard was that one of them was doing work for EQ but he gave up on that and the other one was working up behind Anacortes Telescope but I hear that he too went under.

BUT, times change so that may not be true anymore.

I can say that I have seen work by both of them and had work done by one, and it was excellent.

Merv

matt_unique · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:43 am Post subject: King

King provided Napoleon's curtains. I installed the snaps (on the window frames and in the canvas) but they fit perfectly and were perfectly matched to the interior sunbrella canvas. They originally sent me curtains for the wrong interior and refunded the cost of return shipping and of course sent out a new/correct set and snap kit.

I tried one of the squeeze handle type snap kits with little success. I opted for the anvil type and it worked perfectly. It definitely takes some time to install the snaps but you only need to do it once.

Good luck.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: King Marine Canvas

dotnmarty · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:31 pm Post subject:

In my ditty bag I carry the snap tool and also a candle (for lubing snaps).

lloyds · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 2:38 pm Post subject:

I guess my experience is not singular. Next a local shop if I buy a boat without a cover. I will get the tool and see if that helps. I have experimented with the fittings to loosen it up but the law of physics or whatever seems to always catch up with me. One action here gets another, usually negative one somewhere else. Thanks for all your input.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 3:11 pm Post subject:

Yeah, it was Canvas Riggers, and I went looking for them. I asked in the little business park there by the telescope store and nobody had ever heard of a canvas shop in there (although I did see a cool custom boat under construction!) I was well aware the two guys who used to be Canvas Riggers had split up, and I believe I confirmed then (this would have been 2007) that neither of them was still in business. Whether somebody was doing some work for EQ I wouldn't know.

I have the little tool to snap the snaps, and we have lubed the snaps as recommended, but (A) they are too damn tight, period, and anybody ought to be able to see this, and (2) you have to outside the boat to use the tool effectively, which is no help when you are on the water.

But like I say, it isn't hard to adjust the frame to loosen it up a bit...