adding to side curtains of aft enclosure

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   I had a new 7 section camper back sewn two years ago at the time the aft bimini was made new. It encloses the the cockpit of my express cruiser and the 30 gauge rolled clear vinyl side and stern panels are used only during bad weather. The side panels are stored rolled up between some old sheets as protectors. I use an aft curtain to cover the cockpit when we are not at the boat. The clear vinyl windows have shrunk to he point where they can't be zipped together anymore- the gap at each zipper is approx 1 1/2". Does anyone have any ideas as to how to make extensions? The border is Sunbrella as is the bimini. I thought of sewing a Sunbrella tube the length of each zipper and turning it inside out, flattening then sewing it flat. The existing zipper would be taken off and sewn to these extension pieces which in turn would be sewn to the side panel borders.

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johnboat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 23 October 2007 Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnboat Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: adding to side curtains of aft enclosure Posted: 20 April 2008 at 9:56pm
	I had a new 7 section camper back sewn two years ago at the time the aft bimini was made new. It encloses the the cockpit of my express cruiser and the 30 gauge rolled clear vinyl side and stern panels are used only during bad weather. The side panels are stored rolled up between some old sheets as protectors. I use an aft curtain to cover the cockpit when we are not at the boat. The clear vinyl windows have shrunk to he point where they can't be zipped together anymore- the gap at each zipper is approx 1 1/2". Does anyone have any ideas as to how to make extensions? The border is Sunbrella as is the bimini. I thought of sewing a Sunbrella tube the length of each zipper and turning it inside out, flattening then sewing it flat. The existing zipper would be taken off and sewn to these extension pieces which in turn would be sewn to the side panel borders.

w1ndfall Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 December 2005 Status: Offline Points: 383	Post Options Post Reply Quote w1ndfall Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 April 2008 at 12:08pm
	Hi Johnboat: I have heard of panels not fitting after a period of time but this amount of "shrinkage" is beyond anything that I've experienced. Were the panels made in late summer or other hot weather? Do you have the panels in the right locations? I'd suggest making zipper plaques such as those shown in the free demo streaming video on our website. Leave enough material to fold over the outside edges prior to sewing onto the panels. I hope that this helps. Best regards, Dan Smith Annapolis Store Manager

johnboat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 23 October 2007 Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnboat Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 April 2008 at 3:54pm
	Dan- Thanks, I'll check out the online video. The entire top with side panels were made in the fall of '05 and they were a bit tight to begin with. The panels are different enough so they cannot be mislocated and I have colored ribbons marking each panel anyway. As you do, I find it hard to believe that the skrinkage is that much but I attribute it to first, being vinyl, and second that I don't keep them in place all the time to keep them stretched as a flybridge enclosure would be. Regards, John