Help needed with 270 FV Canvas Install

gack

I took the day off of work today to install snaps on new canvas I purchased from TJ and ran into problems.  I installed the two bimini tops but they do not fit right with the existing poles that came with the boat. The previous owner has two biminis but no side curtains or camper canvas like I have.  Would the poles be different for a full enclosure?   Does the back pole for the front bimini go forward or aft of the radar arch?

randy56

Don't know if this will help but, I  installed rear top, here is post.
http://rinkerboats.vanillaforums.com/discussion/6109/installation-of-camper-top-on-270#latest

Liberty44140

What tj sent you is what was original from the factory. If the previous owner or before had something new or custom made it may not fit with what came from the factory. Probably best to post some pics of the situation. 

gack

OK, think i just figured it out by googling pics of other 270s.  The poles came installed in the boat so I assumed they were in the correct position.  looking at other boats I'm pretty sure mine is wrong.  See pic.

Trashman

gack, ill take some of my top. could you shw a pic a little lower where it connects to fiberglass   that looks different from mine for sure. mine is a 2004 270fv

gack

Trashman, Can't get to the boat until the weekend, but here's a pic that I found online.  Looks like my pole was installed backwards by prior owner for some reason.

reneechris14

gack

Yup, mine is on backwards, an easy fix.  Was worried I had the wrong poles.

Cableguy Greg

gack said:

Yup, mine is on backwards, an easy fix.  Was worried I had the wrong poles.

From the picture you posted above, you can see that the canvas was put up correctly, but the poles were backwards. Glad to hear that you figured it out.

gack

Thanks all.

gack

Ok,  I got my poles sorted out, now I have another question. My windscreen seemed short when trying to connect it to the windshield. I know the canvas should be tight, but I was afraid I would tear it or bend a pole if I pulled to hard.  I did some research on the issue and found that some 270s have a windscreen that slides into a track at the top of the windshield and some snap into the top of windshield (not sure what years have what).  Picture is what I got from TJ which has a rubber channel on it, is this a slide-in windscreen?  My boat has the clip-on windshield frame snaps so do I need a different part?.  Thanks for the help.

diggin2day1

I have snaps on my 2002

randy56

I have snaps on 2003

Liberty44140

That black rubber tubing is just a gasket to keep water out, the tube does not slide in to anything, you still use snaps 

Willhound

And usually the snaps do not come pre-mounted because they need to be mated to the location of the corresponding male part of the snap on the windshield frame.  They are generally in about the same place, but can vary slightly.

diggin2day1

I also have two "twist fasteners" (one on each side of the walk-through windshield). The help out a lot when putting the canvas on and lining everything up.... I drop my canvas into those two first and I know the rest will just snap into place. 

Willhound

Willhound said:

And usually the snaps do not come pre-mounted 

Oops. sorry. Now I see in your earlier post that you were in fact.....installing snaps. 

gack

@Willhound, yes thanks.  Piece just does not look right to me.  I had a 250FV and I recall it had the matching blue canvas where it met the top of the windshield where you would install the snaps.   This windscreen doesn't.   Just wanted to make sure before I put holes in it.  Willtake aanother look at it today. Diggin, I have the twist fasters also,  but those are at the bottom of windshield for cockpit cover.

diggin2day1

My cockpit cover mounts to top of windshield in same snaps as the windscreen 

gack

Oh, ok.  Mine mounts to bottom and covers the windshield. 

gack

OK, I got it on.  I forgot how much new canvas can stretch and was gun shy about putting holes in the canvas.  Once I got the front on, side curtains went up pretty quickly.

reneechris14

Wow I can see right though it.

Liberty44140

Looks great! 

Willhound

Nice! New top is so tight that even a cross bar being a half inch out causes issues. Congrats on persevering. 

gack

Just following up with pic of camper top fully installed.  Great addition for these cool spring days and doubles the size of the cockpit.

Willhound

Awesome! Looks just like mine.  Jealous of your oversized platform though. Mine's stock and no budget this year....

rasbury

looks great, we just completed ours late fall and yes, it "doubles' the size of the cockpit- great at the dock, like having a townhouse! Now I need to come up with a way for more privacy at the dock with it up...that does not look to tacky...but for the money, best money we spent on the boat!