About to redo a couple of South Bay Boat navy covers with Pat McCarthy of this site and we are looking at the material purchase, about three yards per boat. Will not replace the original mid-weight canvas fabric from 1982, but trying to decide on cordura vs. sunbrella -- or other options for the replacement. There are a number of discount materials on ebay, so it looks like it is a matter of preference...without provoking any theological disputes, and understanding we have some real pros on this site, anybody got any advice for the best material for a cockpit cover that will fold down and out of the way, but be used during the season and then stored inside the boat under a fiberglass cover in the off-season? Thanks, Rufus
Cordura vs. Sunbrella - or better options?
- Thread starter R T Brinn
- Start date
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Rufus~
I've been very happy with Sunbrella Marine - but have not used Cordura for boat canvas - so cannot compare.
SJS
I've been very happy with Sunbrella Marine - but have not used Cordura for boat canvas - so cannot compare.
SJS
Bill Ferrar
Well-known member
How are you going to sew the material? If you are going to use a household sewing machine sunbrella. You will not be able to sew 1000 cordura with a household machine.
If you are going to sew by hand using a speedy stitcher Either will work. Sunbrella will give you a better looking job but I do not think it will hold up as long though you will get many years of service from sunbrella
I stitched mine by hand back in 92 and it still does not leak. When I do my next one I will lay it out then bring it to a shoe maker to sew because sewing by hand is a lot of work and canvas shops want to do the whole job so they charge full price if you lay it out and they sew.
If you are going to sew by hand using a speedy stitcher Either will work. Sunbrella will give you a better looking job but I do not think it will hold up as long though you will get many years of service from sunbrella
I stitched mine by hand back in 92 and it still does not leak. When I do my next one I will lay it out then bring it to a shoe maker to sew because sewing by hand is a lot of work and canvas shops want to do the whole job so they charge full price if you lay it out and they sew.
Since we have an old top, complete in two parts, the idea would be to take it to a canvas guy and have him use the old one as a template, then lay new fabric over the original frame. We provide the material of choice, thus the question about recommendations for fabric. Thanks for the reply!
Ballistic nylon, used by the USAF will also hold up well. You can pick it up on eBay. My spouse built some decoy ponchos out of it for walk-in hunts in NoDak. They are now eleven years old and still going strong here and in Alaska (traded one away for a short reed goose call).
The 900 Denier Cordura can be sewn on a home sewing machine, although Karen's Viking does balk a bit during the sewing process...
The 900 Denier Cordura can be sewn on a home sewing machine, although Karen's Viking does balk a bit during the sewing process...