PVC Cratch Cover & Pram Hood Care

[Senior Slaphead]

I have both of these covers, now 13 years old and still in reasonable condition.  I've had the boat since Spring 2020.

The covers have shrunk somewhat in the sun, had some wear on the corners that had already been patched, some missing studs and poppers, and glued on corner patches (I think original) above the cratch board that were beginning to peel off. The shrinkage was making it impossible to engage some of the poppers. I'm not sure what the zips are made of but they are not metal and run nice with a little WD40 (ceramic?).

Last year I met a nice lady on the Shroppie (Stichmilitz Rips & Zips) who did a bunch of work on them for very little money.  Patched all the corners, replaced the missing studs and poppers and sewed extension pieces where necessary so all the poppers could engage again. 

The covered cratch and stern are the only areas on my boat where I get any damp so I do have to clean the covers with Mold & Mildew remover a couple of times a year.  I'm also beginning to get some leakage from the stitching on the pram hood.

Another thing I would like to do is add sun/privacy/security screens for use on the transparent windows when I am off the boat, mostly to hide whatever I happen to have in those areas and so I don't have to leave everything opened up when I am off the boat in summer to avoid the considerable greenhouse effect. I've though about using stick on velcro to attach something.

So questions:

- What (PVC suitable) glue should I use to reattach the corner patches?
- Is there any product I can use to stop the stitching leakage?
- Best solution for adding window covers?
- Any other care tips? (yeah I'm as tight as a gnat's chuff and have no intention of replacing them until I need to).

Edited December 8, 2021 by Senior Slaphead
comic effect

[GUMPY]

When mine did that, I spent 12 months  faffing about trying to fix it and keep it going, I bit the bullet and  replaced it.

Much better now

 

 

[Mad Harold]

My pvc canopy used to get a few drips from the stitching as it shrunk a bit and starting to pull at the stitching.

I used Copydex on the outside of the stitching and it worked for a long time.

If you can find somewhere to buy liquid latex,I think that would be more durable.

Once worked in a boot factory and that is what was used to seal the stitching on the soles.

[Ex Brummie]

Traditional shoe polish or dubbin on the stitch runs should seal the stitch leaks.