How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

[Mark42]

I'm going to order a marine fabric called Coastguard and I'm wondering if there is a bias in the material that I need to take into consideration when measuring for the amount I will need.

 

[tengals123]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

top? meaning cover or bimini?<br />Hey, I thought you bought one from ebay already?<br /><br /><br />cheeers

 

[Mark42]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

Hi Tengals,<br /><br />I bought that bimini top just to get the poles. I'm cutting them to fit my boat and have to sew up my own navy top cover.<br /><br />I'm having second thoughts about the Coastguard material. That may be too high end for my application. My use will be rather light. It might sit in the full sun for maybe 30 days a year, and then for only 6 or 8 hours at a time. So the high end fabric may be over kill. There is a lighter material (6.5 oz vs 9.0 oz for Coastguard) called Odyssey III that might match my needs better and for a lot less cash. Plus it should be easier to work with on the sewing machine. I think the top will use 5 yards, any maybe another yard for a top boot(storage cover). I figure if this stuff is good for 3 or 4 years as a boat cover material, it should last a long time as my top fabric. <br /><br />Anyone have any advice on top fabrics for light or medium duty use?

 

[BillP]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

I've been sewing my own boat canvas since the early 1970s. Don't worry about bias on boat top fabric. You won't know or be able to tell while sewing, fitting or looking. 6.5 oz is plenty heavy for your MFG size no matter what the material.<br /><br />Do you want a canvas look or a vinyl look? Your MFG original was probably vinyl. The cheapest and "period correct" is cloth backed vinyl. Easy to cut, sew and will last 5 yrs no problem...and longer if you keep the cloth backing waterproofed. Downside is the stuff is bulky and shrinks badly if you don't keep the top up most of the time. Sliding snaps help. I made my first tops and dodgers with it.<br /><br />A more modern vinyl (one of many) for boat tops is called Weblon...Dacron threads embedded between thin vinyl layers. It comes as a solid color or with different colors on each side. Put a light color outside and a pastel under for reduced glare...I do white tops with light blue or gray underside. It's another easy material to work with and maintain. After 5 yrs of 24 x 7 in direct Florida sun it will start to get brittle. This is my #1 preference for a waterproof convertible top. I think Odyssey may be the same material under a different label.<br /><br />Sunbrella (acrylic AKA Acrylon)is the canvas looking material. Harder to sew (softer)and edges can unravel if not heat sealed, binded or turned under a seam. It lasts longer than the others but needs waterproofing after a year or two of up and down folding.<br /><br />My advice on setting the top up...stretch it nearly as tight as you can get it.

 

[Mark42]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

Bill,<br /><br />Thanks for the advice. I think I want to stay away from the vinyl top look. I have enough white vinyl under the top as it is. The canvas look is what I thought would look nice for a change. And it won't get hot in the sun and shrink like vinyl does.<br /><br />Do you know where I can get some UV protected thread without having to buy an entire spool or bolt? <br /><br />I'll probably have to have a seam or two on the top from joining the material to be wide enough. I'm thinking a single seam down the center with darts on the sides to make it conform/wrap around the bends of the bows. Good? Bad?<br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />Mark

 

[BillP]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

You need "bonded polyester" thread, don't use anything from Kmart, etc unless you want hassles. It is soft and unravels easier when pulled tight through multiple layers of heavy fabric. If you want to try the Kmart stuff lube it with sewing machine oil or silicone while still on the spool...that will ease the pain a little, so will a big needle.<br /><br />Try this link for the best prices on small spools. The inventory changes daily so you have to ask. His (Russ)prices are near dealer cost. <br /><br />thethreadexchange.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=SFNT<br /><br />The other place is Sailrite but they are WAY high.<br /><br />I run my top seams fore and aft and make sure they overlaps to drain properly...but any way works and it isn't critical except for appearance. Where you fold over the edges I use a yardstick width which makes it easy and fast to mark.<br /><br />Do you know what size thread and needle to use? It depends wholy on your machine. Many older home machines will handle V92 thread and more modern ones will do the smaller V69. Needles are matched to thread. Always use the largest needle you can with cloth and smallest with vinyl. I sew everything with V92 in industrial and home machines.

 

[Mark42]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

Bill,<br /><br />Thanks for the thread note. I wondered what v92 and v69 meant. I still have to borrow a sewing machine, so after I get my hands on one I will buy heavy duty needles to support v92 thread.

 

[KaGee]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

Originally posted by Mark42:<br /> Bill,<br /><br />Thanks for the thread note. I wondered what v92 and v69 meant. I still have to borrow a sewing machine, so after I get my hands on one I will buy heavy duty needles to support v92 thread.

Hey Mark,<br />Going to attempt the same thing here after my engine is back in business. Everyone down here swears by TOP GUN material. It's what I plan to use. Here is another link you might find helpful...<br /><br /> LINK <br /><br />I also have a PDF file on "How To" if you are interested, I can email it to you.

 

[jmccall001]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

Did you say a pdf on making your own cover? Would love to see this. Lookong for info on some typ;e of camper canvase for my sear ray 245 1982.<br />Thanks

 

[KaGee]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

Originally posted by John @ Drum Point:<br /> Did you say a pdf on making your own cover? Would love to see this. Lookong for info on some typ;e of camper canvase for my sear ray 245 1982.<br />Thanks

Well, can't mail it without your addy!

 

[Mark42]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

Kagee<br /><br />Would like a copy! Send it to (edited out)<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[gewf631]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

I'd bet that the instructions are the ones that you can get off the Sailrite website.<br /><br />They've also got a pretty active forum.<br /><br />I found a good book on the topic, called The Big Book of Boat Canvas by Karen Lipe Our library carries this book, but it's only $15 if you can't find it locally. Lots of good info on how to sew, setting up the fabric, how to handle fasteners, etc.

 

[jmccall001]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

sorry, my address is<br />jmccall001@sprintmail.com<br />thanks in advance<br />john

 

[KaGee]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

You guys got mail!

 

[Realgun]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

Kagee I need that PFD DFP whatever. <br /><br /><br />I want to make a Bimini top also.

 

[BillP]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

I must have missed the question mark42 asked about thread until now...sorry Mark. <br /><br />The larger the number the bigger the thread. Most marine work is done in V46, V69, V92 or V138. Home machines use V69 or V92 on heavy material and V46 for lightweight sail material. Realguns machine (I have a straight stitch miniwalker machine like his) uses V92. Naturally, you want to use the biggest thread for durabilty but you can always use smaller thread and restitch over the old in 5 yrs.<br /><br />Realgun, I've been sewing boat canvas with my miniwalker for about 5 yrs. If you have any questions drop me a note. One word of caution on these miniwalkers...check all the screws for tightness when you first get them. It can save a big headache early on.<br /><br />

 

[Mark42]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

Hi Bill!<br /><br />Better late than never, right? <br /><br />The top did come out pretty good. Thanks for your advice (in this and other posts), it helped a lot.<br /><br />

<br />

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

Hi Kagee, Can you please send my that "how to" link also? lovemark89@aol.com Thanks.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

Hi Kagee,<br />If you would be so kind as to send it to raymonddevine@bankofcastile.com. <br />Thanks! I bought one of the Yamata machines from Northern Tools last fall and made a top for my other boat but was very frustrated. I need to build a camper canvas and side curtains for my current boat. I used sunberella cloth on the other one.

 

[Realgun]

Re: How do decide how much fabric to order for my top?

BillP For some reason all the screws were tight. Real tight! It was very hard to undo the needle screw!<br /><br />When you thread yours I notice you have a hole near where I have a pole with 2 holes. It the hole on top of yours without the little pole with two holes. I thread though this but you do not?<br /><br />Its on mine beteween the R and the 5, but on top, looks like its real big but that the thread spool holder. The other 4 holes in mine are for a handle. And as heavy as the machine is I am seriously thinking about installing it!<br /><br />How often do you oil yours?<br /><br />Is your machine smooth finish or kind rough?<br /><br />Mines a bit rough. Also it was made in China not Taiwan. I paid 299 and shipping was included.<br /><br />A guy at work said he was going into the upholstery business so I made him a sample of straight stitch and he told me it was not tight in the fabric. Is this his B.S. or is it really an issue I need to fix?<br /><br />By the way it was two pieces of vinyl faced together and the tread was V92 poly the needle was size 22 like the guy at the Upholstry supply said to use. It was sure easy to thread that needle!<br /><br /><br />Thanks for the help BillP.<br /><br />Mark that "Top" looks sharp!