[Tutorial] Repairing a roof on a boat

In navigation, the dodger is a foldable roof which serves both as protection against spray and against the sun. It is an essential element, because it makes an effective windbreaker offering great comfort on board. The roof of the coachroof houses the people on board the boat or sailboat. Equipped with a handrail, it ensures safety in all weathers. The hard top is generally made of heavy canvas, with plastic glass parts for maximum visibility, and a metal bar frame. When a roof has problems, boaters cannot take full advantage of a day trip. To avoid this situation, here are some tips for repairing a roof on a boat.

Common problems with a roof on a boat

We must first identify the type of problem to find the most appropriate solution and undertake repair of a roof on a boat. Various problems can arise on your roof, thus depriving you of comfort and protection during your navigation.

Problems with seams and fabric

The roof hood threads sometimes break due to a neglected finish or only because they are too old. If so, you will see tears at the seams.

The storm can also make holes in the fabric of the roof, especially if the latter is not stretched over the sides. The wind causes friction, therefore tears form on the fabric. Poor quality of the fabric used in the manufacture of the roof also contributes to its tearing.

Problems with the glass parts

Often times, when the roof does not fold down properly, creases form on the plastic glass windows, resulting in tears.

Also, exposure to the sun, wear and dirt can also make the windows dull (or even opaque) thus preventing good visibility.

The roof top measurement problems

It is very important that the shape of the roof of the coachroof perfectly adapts to the cockpit of the boat. It would therefore be impossible to install and fix the roof of the coachroof if the convertible top's measurements are not compatible with the deck as well as the existing equipment.

Solutions for repairing a roof on a boat

You can repair the roof of your sailboat. So here are some simple solutions to do repair of a roof on a boat.

Solutions for fabric

Tears on the seams should be stitched up before they get bigger. For sew a boat roof, it takes a resistant thread, anti-UV treated. You will have more peace of mind by making sure the wires are strong enough to withstand a storm.

The roof cover must be adapted to the marine environment for more resistance. The best solution is to opt for an acrylic canvas coated on one side.

Solutions for glazing

To avoid tears on the side cheeks and the front opening, be sure to tighten the roof before going to sea. And when folding the roof on the deck, be careful not to make any folds on these parts. plastics.

For roof soft window repair, you can for example replace them with Soft pvc which would be suitable for boating or transparent anti-UV crystal.

In the event that the glazing is dull, you should clean it. To clean a plastic roof top window, use a microfiber cloth and cleaning products such as window cleaner or opacified mica. Some use the polish to restore the transparency of the windows. Do not forget to rinse thoroughly with water.

If your canvas has remained in good condition, but the glazing is unrecoverable, you can replace it with new windows. This way you have maximum visibility. If you don't know how, contact a saddler or read our article that explains how to make a roof.

A tailor-made solution

In order for the roof to perfectly match the lines of your boat while adapting to technical constraints, it is important to take measures, in particular for the roof arch.

Other solutions for repairing a roof on a boat

If your dodger no longer holds, you can either have a dodger made by a saddler, or acquire a new dodger. In addition, as the price of a roof for a sailboat can be quite expensive, the used roof top remains a good alternative. You will find good deals on Ebay.

Maintenance of a roof top

The roof of coachroof requires regular maintenance in order to look after its appearance and that of your boat.

A trick to protect the canvas from the sun and the rain is to apply special paint on the roof, this would make the fabric water-repellent.

For the cleaning a roof, you must use a boat canvas cleaner / stain remover. Abrasive products are to be avoided.

Once you have removed the dirt with a brush, spray the hood with a spray. Then apply the cleaning solution using a soft bristle brush. Then, rinse the glass and the metal parts (fasteners and closures) with fresh water to remove soap residue. Finally, be sure to air dry carefully, especially before folding the canvas to respect the coating.

If your roof has zippers, take the opportunity to lubricate them with a special lubricating wax.

Besides cleaning, your canvas may need reprocessing, but this will depend on the age of the fabric. If reprocessing is required, you can apply a waterproof coating or re-waterproofing product. This will keep your canvas for several years. We recommend doing this at the start of the season. We recommend Star Brite roof top waterproofing which is safe in any fabric - including Sunbrella.

Find out more about boat covers, biminis and roofs:

[GUIDE] How to choose your aluminum or stainless steel bimini?

How to fix a bimini on a boat or semi-rigid?

[Tutorial] How to make a bimini for your boat?