Back in march I put out the money for the camperback for my 16' cruiser. I certainly am not complaining about the service or quality of the work, but I am tempted to go back for another fitting. There is no way I can erect the canvas from inside the cockpit. Everything is too tight. I thought it might stretch just a little over time but that hasn't happened. Another thing that surprised me was the substantial gaps at the corners. I had envisioned canvase that was relatively fly and mosquito proof. I know how bad they can be up in the Broughtons. Has anyone else had problems like this with their canvas?
King Marine Canvas
- Thread starter lloyds
- Start date
jkidd
Active member
On another boat I had the canvas was so tight I felt the way you do. I found a tool looks like a putty knife with a bend in it and has a slot for the snap. You can slip it on the snap from the inside and get lots of leverage works great. Temperature has a lot to do with it. If the tool doesn't work you trim a little off of the SS tube on the bimini. You can also loosen the set screws and make some adjustments as well. I got the tool at Overton's but I think WM has them too. Here's a link.
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... 008&r=view
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... 008&r=view
journey on
New member
King canvas supplied the cockpit enclosure for Journey On, and it fit well. So, it certainly seems reasonable to take it back and point out the gaps. OK, if you want it to work, it seems mandatory. By the way, no mosquitoes in the Broughtons until after dark as far as we could tell.
Next, snapping the snaps is a bear from either the outside or inside. I bought a
Top Snapper Snap Tool
Item #: 753183
Manufacturer: IRONWOOD
Model #: 008.1
from Defender, $20 plus shipping, and it works well.
Boris
Next, snapping the snaps is a bear from either the outside or inside. I bought a
Top Snapper Snap Tool
Item #: 753183
Manufacturer: IRONWOOD
Model #: 008.1
from Defender, $20 plus shipping, and it works well.
Boris
I ordered a King Canvas camper back for the C Dory 25. In comparison to the one I had built locally, it was lacking. The edges were not as well finished, there were gaps, the quality of the clear vinly was inferior. The fit was not as good as I would have liked. Personally I would always go with a local canvas shop. For about the same price, the local canvas worker came to the boat a number of times and made sure that the cover fit perfectly. 3 1/2 years later it still fits well and looks like new.
Pat Anderson
New member
We went to find Canvas Makers to make a camperback for our 16 Angler, couldn't find them, so went to King Marine. I personally was really disappointed, but it was mostly our fault by not explaining well what we wanted. Ours also was WAY too tight (how the hell does he think folks are going to get the damn snaps snapped?) - but that is easy to solve by getting out your Allen wrenches and adjusting the frame so the canvas is looser. Believe me, if I can figure this out, you can too! But bottom line, next time we will be looking elsewhere...King Marine won't be getting anymore of our business...
Pat Anderson":1lbjfab7 said:
Pat, are you referring to Canvas Riggers?.....if so, it seems that I heard that the two guys are still in business, but not in business with each other. I thought that one of them now has his business located near Twin Bridges across from the Swinnomish Casino. Perhaps someone can substantiate this information.
Canvasriggers split up a couple of years ago and the one guy set up a business near twin bridges. I remember being told (can't recall who said this) that he has now gone out of business as well.
King Marine Canvas was for a while the supplier used by the factory for canvas for new boats. My canvas was done there (for Casey) and came to me after Casey was dissatisfied with the fit. There are some gaps at the front and rear corners that would make me very unhappy if I lived in buggy country but up here in the PNW they have been inconsequential. Comparing my canvas to others, mine does not seem to look as good or fit as well as some. I would probably look for another supplier were I in the market for new canvas. But...Dave has been very helpful and easy to deal with.
As far as tightness goes, there are lubricants for the snaps themselves that make snapping/unsnapping much easier and there are adjustments on the frame of the canvas by way of the sliding bracket for the forward overhead arch portion of the frame. The bracket/arch is held in place by an allen screw. Loosening that screw allows one to slide the bracket up or down. Doing that makes very substantial changes in the fit as far as tightness and smoothness is concerned.
King Marine Canvas was for a while the supplier used by the factory for canvas for new boats. My canvas was done there (for Casey) and came to me after Casey was dissatisfied with the fit. There are some gaps at the front and rear corners that would make me very unhappy if I lived in buggy country but up here in the PNW they have been inconsequential. Comparing my canvas to others, mine does not seem to look as good or fit as well as some. I would probably look for another supplier were I in the market for new canvas. But...Dave has been very helpful and easy to deal with.
As far as tightness goes, there are lubricants for the snaps themselves that make snapping/unsnapping much easier and there are adjustments on the frame of the canvas by way of the sliding bracket for the forward overhead arch portion of the frame. The bracket/arch is held in place by an allen screw. Loosening that screw allows one to slide the bracket up or down. Doing that makes very substantial changes in the fit as far as tightness and smoothness is concerned.
Dave,
Last I heard was that one of them was doing work for EQ but he gave up on that and the other one was working up behind Anacortes Telescope but I hear that he too went under.
BUT, times change so that may not be true anymore.
I can say that I have seen work by both of them and had work done by one, and it was excellent.
Merv
Last I heard was that one of them was doing work for EQ but he gave up on that and the other one was working up behind Anacortes Telescope but I hear that he too went under.
BUT, times change so that may not be true anymore.
I can say that I have seen work by both of them and had work done by one, and it was excellent.
Merv
matt_unique
New member
King provided Napoleon's curtains. I installed the snaps (on the window frames and in the canvas) but they fit perfectly and were perfectly matched to the interior sunbrella canvas. They originally sent me curtains for the wrong interior and refunded the cost of return shipping and of course sent out a new/correct set and snap kit.
I tried one of the squeeze handle type snap kits with little success. I opted for the anvil type and it worked perfectly. It definitely takes some time to install the snaps but you only need to do it once.
Good luck.
I tried one of the squeeze handle type snap kits with little success. I opted for the anvil type and it worked perfectly. It definitely takes some time to install the snaps but you only need to do it once.
Good luck.
Wandering Sagebrush
Free Range Human
lloyds":2ouynfo8 said:
Hi Lloyd, We have small gaps in the camperback, where the panels come together, but I would not call them substantial. The camperback is "relatively" bug proof with the side and back panels down.
Several of the posters recommended the snap tool. I can't agree enough. There are several models out there. Get the one that is made to snap from both the inside and the outside of the panel. One end grasps the inside of the snap, the other end grasps the outside. It makes life a lot easier when putting things together. A bit of lubricant (silicon grease, etc.) on the inside of the snaps also helps. It cuts down on any corrosion, and it helps the snaps go together.
Steve
I guess my experience is not singular. Next a local shop if I buy a boat without a cover. I will get the tool and see if that helps. I have experimented with the fittings to loosen it up but the law of physics or whatever seems to always catch up with me. One action here gets another, usually negative one somewhere else. Thanks for all your input.
Pat Anderson
New member
Yeah, it was Canvas Riggers, and I went looking for them. I asked in the little business park there by the telescope store and nobody had ever heard of a canvas shop in there (although I did see a cool custom boat under construction!) I was well aware the two guys who used to be Canvas Riggers had split up, and I believe I confirmed then (this would have been 2007) that neither of them was still in business. Whether somebody was doing some work for EQ I wouldn't know.
I have the little tool to snap the snaps, and we have lubed the snaps as recommended, but (A) they are too damn tight, period, and anybody ought to be able to see this, and (2) you have to outside the boat to use the tool effectively, which is no help when you are on the water.
But like I say, it isn't hard to adjust the frame to loosen it up a bit...
I have the little tool to snap the snaps, and we have lubed the snaps as recommended, but (A) they are too damn tight, period, and anybody ought to be able to see this, and (2) you have to outside the boat to use the tool effectively, which is no help when you are on the water.
But like I say, it isn't hard to adjust the frame to loosen it up a bit...
Pat,
It was in 2007 that the one who moved to the industrial site behind Anacortes Telescope did the canvas on Kingfisher I for us. He was previously down in the Goldie Rd. area of Oak Harbor.
We were probably his first project as he was building the shop at the same time. I keep meaning to pass by there and see if there is any sign of him.
Merv
It was in 2007 that the one who moved to the industrial site behind Anacortes Telescope did the canvas on Kingfisher I for us. He was previously down in the Goldie Rd. area of Oak Harbor.
We were probably his first project as he was building the shop at the same time. I keep meaning to pass by there and see if there is any sign of him.
Merv
Christopher-Robyn
New member
I was very disappointed with the full boat cover King made for my 16 Angler. It was too short on both sides to cover the blue stripe, the tie down grommets had no protective flaps to prevent contact with the hull & the front opening arrangement for the anchor was really a bad design. I thought he had patterns for each C-Dory. Luckily, I found a local guy who did a great modification job! Wish I had known of him to begin with. Never again!
Paul K
Paul K
Have to say that it was because of similar comments about King that we went with Canvas Riggers even though they had parted ways.
The workmanship that I have seen from both of them was excellent and they had "tricks of the trade" and details that we had not even thought about.
For us, it is sad that two extremely talented people should drop out of the business in such a small area.
Wish we could find them again as we have more business but it takes more than one... to make it viable.
Merv
The workmanship that I have seen from both of them was excellent and they had "tricks of the trade" and details that we had not even thought about.
For us, it is sad that two extremely talented people should drop out of the business in such a small area.
Wish we could find them again as we have more business but it takes more than one... to make it viable.
Merv
Ditto here on issues with King. The camperback was OK I guess. I have no problems with the snaps but, my wife sometime does. Thought he was treating me like everyone else treats people from Michigan. Overall, too expensive, took too long (6 weeks but was nice enough to give me some extra canvas to make my own curtains with) and lacking service skills (possibly understaffed). I have some of picks of my camperback install in my mods photo album if it helps. I've also added additional snaps for trailering. The best way to open the sides is to unzip the top zipper first then the snaps from top to bottom. Reverse procedure to close.