T&T: Bimini Top Fabric Material

[Keith McGregor]

I would echo what Marin has written.  I own a marine canvas business and
would completely agree that you can get Sunbrella to last for much longer
than the 5 year warranty that Raven Mills provides.  The real key is using
the Tenara thread instead of UV-resistant polyester thread.  Yes, it is
expensive and difficult to work with, but it is really worth the additional
cost.  This is especially true if you boat in the south.


Keith


On 9/10/07, Faure, Marin <marin.faure at boeing.com> wrote:
>
> >What success have the members had with these or other fabrics.
> Replacement tops are not exactly cheap, I would like to get more than
> five years before replacement.
>
>
> Sunbrella should have a life a lot longer than five years.  I realize
> climate has a lot to do with it, but our boat came with a canvas cover
> for just about every piece of external teak plus a two-part cover for
> the entire flying bridge.  We've had the boat nine years now and the
> Sunbrella is still doing fine.  The flying bridge fabric (the oldest
> covers on the boat) has worn thin in spots and my wife is going to
> repair that with her massive Brother industrial sewing machine (first
> sewing machine I've ever seen that has a lube oil sump and pump).
>
> But while the type and quality of the fabric is important, the thread
> that holds it all together is even more important.  Usually what happens
> is the thread breaks down in UV light, salt, pollution, etc. and lets
> the seams start to come apart. At that point the fabric will begin to
> tear sooner rather than later.
>
> >From everything I've read there is only one thread worth using in an
> outside fabric cover-- be it a bimini, rail cover, transom cover, dinghy
> cover, etc.-- and that is Tenara thread from GoreTex.  The stuff is
> pretty much impervious to everything.  It is also very expensive--- the
> retail price for a single bobbin is close to $300.  However there are
> internet sources that sell the same bobbin for about $130.  It can be
> tricky to use--- the tension on the sewing machine has to be set just
> right, and the setting is different than other threads (my wife says).
>
> If you're going to have new covers made it would be well worth it to
> make sure the shop uses Tenara thread regardless of the type of fabric
> you settle on.  The thread's the key to the longevity of the whole deal,
> and it's not worth skimping on it.
>
> ______________________________
> C. Marin Faure
> GB36-403 "La Perouse"
> Bellingham, Washington
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