Canvas Covers

I got a custom made cover with my boat. In the past my canvas tops have always rotted out in a few years.
I am looking for tips for keeping this cover looking and lasting new.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

Chappy, Here’s my 2 cents. Water and wear are your canvas killers. Keep it dry as much as you can. A lot of guys let the middle sag and water collects. Don’t do that. Get some structure in the middle of the boat to hold the canvas up in the rain. Some guys use flexible metal rods running perpendicular to your boat to keep the canvas up in the middle. I don’t have to do that on my boat because I use the seats to prop it up. You might too, depending on your boat configuration. Get the nose up in the air to ensure all the water is running off the canvas. If you leave it outside over winter you’ll need to clear the snow regularly. Keep it dry. Now the wear tends to come at certain points where the boat meets the canvas: your trolling motor mount, gas tank, fishfinder, console, brackets on seats, etc. Check for these points of contact and try to reduce the contact as much as possible. Again, it will depend on your boat’s set up. You can use rags, towels, or foam rubber for prevent wear and rubbing at the contact points. Keeping it clean can also be helpful in preventing mold/mildew growth, which also can break down canvas over time. Follow these suggestions and you and your canvas will have a long and happy life together. Best of luck!

I had a custom cover sewn in April 2002 for my rig. Canvas Craft in Anoka did a fabulous job for me and I will buy my next cover there as well. I asked the owner how to care for the fabric and he echoed the previous post and advised me to wash it off with a hose and mild detergent once a year to remove the grime and then polish it with Lemon Pledge furniture wax. He claims it will help the fabric maintain its suppleness, flexibility and water repellency as well as combat the effects of sun exposure. Do this once a year and the cover should last you a decade or at least until you buy a new boat.

Pledge huh???
That’s one that I never heard before.
I suppose the wax in it helps to seal the fabric.
Do you suppose a water repellent spray once a year is a good idea?
Thanks for the ideas.

If it’s used for travel, make sure it’s a tight fit. If its floppin around every mile will take a week of its life. I have been down this road many times with covers. I too have never heard the pledge treatment, that’s interesting.

I had never heard of using Pledge either but it makes sense as long as there are no chemicals in it that could be harful to the canvas… My father-in-law goes so far as to place on of those low-cost tarps over his cover when he parks the boat at home. I think you can get ’em for $12 to $20 at Menards, Fleet, etc. Lots of options to protect your investment.

I don’t think you want to put Pledge on Canvas. The material they use for most covers at Canvas Craft is that “Top Gun” material. Top Gun is a vinyl like fabric in various colors.

If you have actual canvas, there are protectants out there made for canvas that work great.

Jon J.