Even if you decide to DIY your own repairs, sewing or replacing your boat canvas is a huge time - and money - investment. The problem is that repairing when you should be replacing can cost you MORE in the long run, rather than helping you save!
Rips, tears, and fraying edges don’t necessarily mean a replacement is needed so don’t jump the gun. Instead, take a look and identify the extent of the damage, the type of canvas, and the age when thinking about making repairs or replacing your boat canvas.
Here’s what you need to consider:
How old is your Canvas?
No matter what type of damage your canvas has, the age of your canvas is detrimental to deciding whether it’s time to repair or replace your boat canvas. Once your canvas hits a certain age, say around 20-25 years old, it becomes harder to repair.
Your canvas’s quality will consistently decrease as it ages and is used and washed - it can even require earlier replacement if you’re not caring for your boat canvas properly.
When the water soaks through:
When your canvas is no longer waterproof, meaning water is no longer rolling off and is instead soaking into the canvas it doesn’t necessarily mean it is time for a replacement. If your canvas is in otherwise good condition, it just means it's time to re-waterproof your cover!
If your cover is Sunbrella, you should be re-waterproofing your cover every 3-5 years as regular canvas maintenance.
Rips and Tears:
Ripping your canvas does not automatically mean you need a new one, you can still patch your canvas at home. When you notice that you’re constantly patching up your cover or needing to replace patches frequently, it may be a sign you should start putting your money towards a replacement.
As your cover gets older, rips and tears will happen more frequently as the material wears down. Even if you are not dealing with many rips at the moment, but notice that they are coming more frequently AND your cover is getting up there in age, consider planning to replace your cover before it completely falls apart.
When your cover falls apart:
The ultimate sign of your canvas cover needing to be replaced is that it is falling apart. This could be at any point and will completely depend on use, care, and age. Canvas covers are not meant to last forever, although if cared for properly they can last a long time.
Eventually, your cover is going to give in and need to be replaced - the timing is just going to be a little different for everyone!
Making your cover last:
Your canvas cover can last longer than you think, typically around 20-25 years on average with proper care. But, that’s the key - you have to properly care for your cover. This mainly means cleaning regularly, re-waterproofing on time, and storing appropriately.
If you would like to learn more about caring for your canvas cover, check out our guide here.
How to identify if it’s time for a replacement:
If you’re still unsure whether you need a repair or it’s time for a full canvas cover replacement, reach out to us! We’re always happy to help you learn more about what your canvas needs along with your options. Send us an email or give us a call.
contact@yourcanvassolutions.com
(616) 710-1036