Help with trailer cover straps

Mark W

Mark W

Well-known member
This is actually duck boat related as this cover goes on my duck boat when trailering it around.

I always tend to buy inexpensive boat covers and toss them when they are at their life's end. The covers are generally good but it is the straps, or the plastic strap clips that break and render the cover useless. my most recent cover has broken clips so I just jury rig something that works but it is a pain to use.

I know what the fix is, just don't know how to do it with the gear I have. I have plenty of plastic clips, dozens of them actually. What I don't have is a sewing machine strong enough fo me to cut the loop holding these plastic clips, inserting a new clip, and then sewing a loop around the new clip (hope this makes sense)

How can I take a polyester strap (or nylon, or some material). and make a loop to hold a plastic clip. I'm cheap so keep this in mind. I now someone on here can help. I'm thinking (thinking might be a stretch) that something that makes makes holes in belts and then puts in place a brass "rivet) in the hole.

Sure would appreciate any advice. Opening is less than 2 weeks away. This is my last taks and then I'll be ready early. For once.

Thanks -

Mark
 
Not sure if exactly what you are looking for, the rivet, the tool, both? For making a hole in a woven nylon strap, I use a tapered awl. Heat the pointed end and melt the point thru the strap. This fuses the fibers and makes the holes less likely to tear out.



https://www.amazon.com/JUNESunShine-Leather-Fastener-Install-Supplies/dp/B08RDV5NN1/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=leather%2Brivets&qid=1663109585&sr=8-11&th=1
 
Huntindave McCann said:
Not sure if exactly what you are looking for, the rivet, the tool, both? For making a hole in a woven nylon strap, I use a tapered awl. Heat the pointed end and melt the point thru the strap. This fuses the fibers and makes the holes less likely to tear out.
Click to expand...
Huntindave McCann said:



https://www.amazon.com/...amp;sr=8-11&th=1
Click to expand...


Basically I want to take a strap (not sure if it is nylon, polyester or some synthetic blend) and make a loop out of the strap. I need a way to "bond" the strap to itself to make a loop. I need more than this but this should make what I am trying to do easier to understand.

I have found the Speedy Stitcher online and this may be the ticket.

https://www.amazon.com/Speedy-Stitcher-SEW110-BRK-Sewing-Awl/dp/B0049W6XRE


Mark
 
Mark W said:
Basically I want to take a strap (not sure if it is nylon, polyester or some synthetic blend) and make a loop out of the strap. I need a way to "bond" the strap to itself to make a loop. I need more than this but this should make what I am trying to do easier to understand.


Mark
Click to expand...


Note; These may not be the size you need to fit the strapping you have. Obviously other sizes are available.

https://www.amazon.com/YYST-Stainless-Triglides-Sliders-Straps/dp/B075YF28JB/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=1+webbing+hardware&qid=1663113639&sr=8-13


how to use these; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uya3uL1q3Ac

Note: If you are wanting to make one large continuous loop (rather than a loop on the end) just insert each end the strap into the "tri-glide" from opposite directions with sufficient overlap.

Also, if you are concerned about "pull out", you can double up by using 2 "tri glides" in tandem one after another.
 
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I'm doing a bad job explaining what the issue is. Let's try again.

I have plastic buckles that are attached to a boat cover. The plastic buckle broke. It is attached to the boat cover by a strap loop that is sewn shut. I need to remove the broken buckle and replace it. I need a way to close the loop again and make sure it stays that way. Below is a pic of the buckles. As you can see, the female part has a solid bar in the back that gets sewn into the loop.

Is this better?



View attachment 61I0-xPRjcL._AC_UX679_.webp
 
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Hello Mark,
I use a speedy stitch awl just a couple of stitches should work.good videos and aa little practice.
https://www.speedystitcher.com/




 
Mark W said:
I'm doing a bad job explaining what the issue is. Let's try again.

I have plastic buckles that are attached to a boat cover. The plastic buckle broke. It is attached to the boat cover by a strap loop that is sewn shut. I need to remove the broken buckle and replace it. I need a way to close the loop again and make sure it stays that way. Below is a pic of the buckles. As you can see, the female part has a solid bar in the back that gets sewn into the loop.

Is this better?
Click to expand...


What I typically do is cut the plastic buckles off the loop so the loop is entact. Then I'll use bungee cords going around the trailer tube and put the hooks from the bungee cords in the loops.
 
Ed L. said:
Mark W said:
I'm doing a bad job explaining what the issue is. Let's try again.

I have plastic buckles that are attached to a boat cover. The plastic buckle broke. It is attached to the boat cover by a strap loop that is sewn shut. I need to remove the broken buckle and replace it. I need a way to close the loop again and make sure it stays that way. Below is a pic of the buckles. As you can see, the female part has a solid bar in the back that gets sewn into the loop.

Is this better?
Click to expand...


What I typically do is cut the plastic buckles off the loop so the loop is entact. Then I'll use bungee cords going around the trailer tube and put the hooks from the bungee cords in the loops.
Click to expand...

Bungee cords is the fix I currently employ and usually use. I?d like to get away from those bungees and back to the original snap. Bungees, for me, just do t work as well and is harder to use. In the winter hunting months they are difficult to use. Maybe if I had hooks on the trailer it would work better.
 
Mark W said:
It is attached to the boat cover by a strap loop that is sewn shut. I need to remove the broken buckle and replace it. I need a way to close the loop again and make sure it stays that way.
Click to expand...

That's what I understood in the 1st place.
How much strap length is remaining still attached to the cover?

If there is plenty of strap, use the "tri-glide" to close and secure the end loop. Thread the strap thru the "tri-glide" as shown in the below video. Then thread the buckle onto the strap before threading the tag end back thru the "tri-glide". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDTzmDDSKig

If the strap length is insufficient to use the "tri-glide" use the rivets to secure the loop.


__________________________________________________


An option which does not require you to cut the loop that is already in place, is to use a "field repair" buckle.

Another option which does not require you to cut the loop that is already in place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UeBzIIxKeU

Pictures of the actual project can be helpful when describing something.
 
Cover wasn't available to me last night or I would have taken pics. Here is the actual problem. Picture 1 shows the broken buckle (and there is more than one broken) and picture two shows how it should look

And Thank you Dave for the links. The loop that attaches the buckle to the boat cover is maybe 1/2-1" in diameter so very little loop material. I am going to try the field repair method you provided the link to. I would think this wouldn't be strong enough but I have dozens of buckles and if this doesn't work, will go another route.

Thanks.

Mark
Boat Cover.jpegBoat cover 2.jpeg
 
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Open the loop by cutting existing stitching, insert new buckle, sew shut with Speedy Stitcher. Sailrite has a good video on using a Speedy Stitcher.

https://youtu.be/SFx-NZP49d8
 
I used the method described in the video link Dave provided. I cut the old buckle out and left the loop intact. I then made a diagonal cut about 1/8" from one end of the new buckle. Threaded the new buckle through the loop. Pulled hard on the new buckle and it wasn't going anywhere. Great easy fix.

Tires just need some more air and two of three boats are ready for hunting in a week and a half.

Mark
 
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