Fabrics for Covers and Tops

This page is to help you choose fabric for your new cover, fabric is ordered for each boat.
The State of Ohio is against business and they enforce financial penalties for any type of inventory.

General Information about Marine Fabrics, also known as Canvas

• All fabrics are strong and nice looking when they are new.
Fabrics that cost more have longer warranties and are higher quality.
Marine fabrics not abused when towing or for winter storage will last well past the warranty.
Life of fabric has to do with the amount of ultra-violet light it will take before it degrades.
Some other factors include wind-whip, abrasion, salt-air, pollution, ice and heavy snow.
All Marine fabrics can be periodically washed and treated to make them last longer.
All Marine fabrics that are not rotten or worn out can be waterproofed easily. see cover care

• The weight of the fabric is quoted in ounces for one Square Yard of Material.
11.0oz fabric would weigh (220 ounces) aprox. 14 lbs. for a cover using 20 square yards.
9.25oz fabric would weigh (185 ounces) aprox. 12 lbs. for a cover using 20 square yards.
6.25oz fabric would weigh (125 ounces) aprox. 8 lbs. for a cover using 20 square yards.
Heavier fabrics are not necessarily better. That depends on fabric quality and intended use.

• Coated Canvas has a base material of cotton, cotton/poly, polyester or acrylic. A top side coating is added or it is dipped in coating(double coated). A few have a bottom side coating like Sunbrella Plus. Coated fabrics are waterproof, stiffer, harder to fold and require care not to damage the coating. They work great for towing and winter storage because they generally will not stretch.
When the coating wears off or wears out, the cover has to be replaced.

• Heavy Coated Topping has a base material of cotton, cotton/poly, polyester or acrylic with a heavy vinyl top side coating. Coated Topping is waterproof and easy to clean. Topping is used for bimini tops, convertible tops and enclosures.
When the coating dry's out and cracks, the topping will need to be replaced.

• Open Weave Canvas is the nicest looking and is water resistant or water repellant. These fabrics are softer, easier to fold, easy to repair and breath well. Open Weave fabric is used for all types of covers, tops and enclosures.
I would rather have a bimini top made with open weave fabric on a hot day.

• Either way, the water will run off the fabric as long as the cover is not flat or without pitch.

• deff. Solution Dyed :: The fibers or yard is dyed with a solution before it is milled or manufactured into fabric.
• deff. Vat Dyed :: The color is applied to the fabric after it's milled by running it through a vat of dye.
• deff. Coated canvas :: The color and coating are applied to the fabric after it's milled. Fabrics can be hot dipped, sprayed, impregnated or laminated with a coating.

Fabrics we offer at Daves' Canvas - Subject to change without notice -

Open Weave Canvas for boats
# 5 year warranty 13oz. SunForger
mineral dyed cotton duck
# 10oz. SunForger
mineral dyed cotton duck
# 9.25oz. Sunbrella
solution dyed acrylic
# 9.25oz. Sunbrella Designer
solution dyed acrylic
# 9.25oz. Coastguard
solution dyed acrylic
# 9.25oz. Dixson
solution dyed acrylic

Coated Canvas for boats
# 5 year warranty 11oz. Top Gun
acrylic coated polyester
# 11oz. Harbor Time
acrylic coated polyester
# 10oz. Sunbrella Plus
polyurethane back-coated solution dyed acrylic
# 9 oz. Aqualon
vinyl resin top-coated 2ply polyester duck
# 8.3oz. Stamoid Super Light
vinyl coated polyester

# 3 year warranty 6.5oz. Odessey
acrylic coated polyester
# 6.25oz. Sea Spraé
acrylic coated polyester

Heavy Coated Topping for boats
# 24oz. Sea Cover
vinyl coated cotton/polyester blend
# 24oz. Burbank Marine Topping
vinyl coated cotton/polyester blend
# oz. G & T Sport Topping
vinyl coated cotton/polyester blend
# oz. G & T Weather Cover
vinyl coated polyester non-woven backing

Heavy Coated Tarp Fabric
# Tuff Stuff
PVC coated Polyester