See full version: How to Clean Mold From Boat Canvas
Modern boat canvas is usually made from a synthetic fabric, like Dacron or nylon, rather than cotton. Since your boat's canvas is regularly subjected to a wet--or at least damp--environment, mold prevention is the goal of canvas maintenance. Elbow grease, without harsh chemicals that damage the canvas, can prevent mold from gaining a foothold and is no more than an afternoon's work.
Use a brush with soft bristles to scrub the parts of the canvas that show any evidence of mold with the Woolite/vinegar/water mixture. Continue to scrub these areas until the mold has been physically removed. [links]
Mix 2 tablespoons of Woolite and 2 cups of white vinegar in a gallon of water. Do not use liquid bleach on boat canvas, regardless of the type of material. The active ingredient in liquid bleach is sodium hypochlorite, which will strip the protective coating from the threads that are used in the canvas. more
Below, you will see what a basic boat cover repair kit should look like.
Another boat cover repair product on the market that also works well as an adhesive patch is Sail Repair tape. This is available in most marine supply stores, but only comes in white.
The mildew grows on the dirt trapped in the weave of the fabric, so keeping your cover clean is your best defense. more
Thread tip! Give your boat cover the tug test every year, without fail, to check the integrity of your thread. If you do this faithfully, especially after a storm, you will save yourself many costly repairs. The thread may look fine, but fails when substantial pressure is applied. I can't tell you how many conversations I've had with customers on this subject and how many times I have been told “my thread was fine”.
Tip: The very best thing you can do for your vinyl is keep it clean, more
Made Our Boating Season Very Enjoyable! Our boat was 10 years old when we purchased it and the canvas was stored all rolled up in the boat. When we tried to put the canvas together the force required to zipper the canvas together was making the canvas split on the seams or causing the zippers to tear, so we had to leave parts of the canvas unattached and every time it rained we would get water in the boat. With your zippers in place we could button up all of the canvas and make a very nice weather tight space which made our boating season very enjoyable. Phil R.
Please come visit me at Cover Girl Marine Canvas & Upholstery to see some of our awesome work! [links]
The Bottom Line The extend zippers have been a resounding success. Zippers were needed for the starboard stern section of my bimini top, and for both side curtains of my camper canvas. It is a clever design you came up with to increase the width of connectivity between my bimini top and camper canvas sections. I do not know what I would have done otherwise as the camper canvas sections have shown shrinkage over time. M. Marien - Missouri[links]
PanoramaFR is a flame-resistant press-polished clear vinyl sheet designed for indoor or outdoor use in any application where clarity, durability, strength and dimensional stability is required. more
CrystalClear offers superior clarity and performance quality in an uncoated vinyl sheet. CrystalClear has been the clear vinyl choice of O.E.M. Boat Builders, Marine Suppliers, Marine and Awning fabricators, and Power Screen Manufacturers worldwide.
Strataglass is the legendary and most recognized brand in a flexible coated vinyl sheet engineered with VueShield™ to resist scratching, UV degradation, chemical damage and the typical marine environment. It incorporates the highest quality raw materials with a proprietary coating and manufacturing processes. [links]
See why yacht owners and marine fabricators around the world trust and recommend Strataglass more than any other enclosure brand. [links]