Dodger and Canvas Fasteners

[steve stark]

Hey all...
Starbright has a dodger that has some years of life left in it but... I am very tired of the "lift the dot" type of fastener that hold the forward, mostly vertical panels (with the clears in them) to the foredeck/cabintop. They seem to tear up and pull loose frequently.

Where other canvas (such as the dodger side panels) connect to a more vertical surface (like the coaming), conventional snaps seem to work well. And for canvas to canvas mating, I like the quarter-turn type of fastener.

The question for you is: where a mostly-vertical canvas panel meets a horizontal deck surface, what fasteners to you have that seem to work well?

 

[med2463]

Hey all...
Starbright has a dodger that has some years of life left in it but... I am very tired of the "lift the dot" type of fastener that hold the forward, mostly vertical panels (with the clears in them) to the foredeck/cabintop. They seem to tear up and pull loose frequently.

Where other canvas (such as the dodger side panels) connect to a more vertical surface (like the coaming), conventional snaps seem to work well. And for canvas to canvas mating, I like the quarter-turn type of fastener.

The question for you is: where a mostly-vertical canvas panel meets a horizontal deck surface, what fasteners to you have that seem to work well?

I prefer the "twisties" see attached pic of our dodger.

 

[navigator97]

Ours, too, use the same type as maryd33950 shows in the attached photo. They work well on any surface (vert, horiz, or slope). They are available in all canvas shops, West marine, or at JoAnns sewing stores.

 

[med2463]

Ours, too, use the same type as maryd33950 shows in the attached photo. They work well on any surface (vert, horiz, or slope). They are available in all canvas shops, West marine, or at JoAnns sewing stores.

And Sailrite.com (my favorite canvas supplier)

 

[Bill Roosa]

lift to dot fasteners, a variation of the snap fastener. It will only release on the dot side. pulls from any other direction will not pull off.

 

[alexco38]

Lift the dot fasterner has 1 screw into the surface. The 1/4 turn has 2 which is stronger. It also won't come out unless you want them to.

 

[RichH]

The question for you is: where a mostly-vertical canvas panel meets a horizontal deck surface, what fasteners to you have that seem to work well?

You can change to the 'quarter turn' (Common Sense™ or Stayput™) type which are quite easy to install on a DIY basis. These are available in metal (preferred) or plastic (last about 10 years in UV exposure).
http://www.sailrite.com/Common-Sense-Cloth-to-Surface-Complete-With-2-Screw-Stud
http://www.sailrite.com/Stayput-Horizontal-Fastener-Stainless-Steel

An alternative is a 'boltrope' and track arrangement ... very secure and can easily withstand the force of deep 'solid green water' hitting the dodger.
http://www.sailrite.com/Awning-Track-Aluminum-96

 

[steve stark]

Thanks to all for the input. I love the expanded experience base that comes to bear via this forum on these little issues. I think 'twisties', as in Mary's application, are the answer.

BTW, Rich, I did use some UV stabilized polymer awning track to fasten my top canvas pieces to my stainless tubing arch. Very slick as regular snap or quarter turn fasteners that I have seen used on other boats stick up and try to snag the traveller lines on top of the arch.

 

[Sumner]

I'm just finishing a Dodger/Bimini combo and installed the common sense fasteners and so far love them.

I put a page up on our site on how I installed them here...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-canvas/canvas-21.html

Not sure if that helps or not. I've also been installing the ones for fabric to fabric using the same method.

Good luck,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Stu Jackson]

I agree. The snap fasteners and the single pins are a PITA compared to these.

 

[Steve Dion]

Okay, but if you are stuck with those "lift a dot" fastener there is an "easier" way to fasten them. Get a 3/4 x 1/2 PVC tee. You can push down on the fastener/post with the 1/2" side to seat the fastener.

I can never get these thing in place when they are in tight spaces.

 

[PaulK]

Point-to-point fasteners like the quarter-turn or lift-dot often get tears in the fabric near them from stress on the material. A boat in our harbor avoids this by fastening a channel (like a mast slot) across the cabintop and fitting a "luff rope" to the bottom of the dodger. (Smaller dia. than on a sail, but the same idea.) This spreads the stresses more evenly along the entire dodger to avoid tears, and keeps waves blasting across the deck from shooting water up between the fasteners.