Hi all-
Looking for opinions and preferences on canvas fastener types.
Bought a 'new to me' LaveyCraft NuEra 2750 MCOB last fall and it went right into storage. The boat was never fitted with cockpit or mooring covers and I am getting ready to have them made.

Question is whether anyone has preferences or opinions on the fasteners. I have had boats with both types (typical round snaps and the oval blade twist type). They both seem to have advantages but my canvas guy says spacing is typically about 1.5X wider for the twist type. I like the lower profile of the snaps but having fewer is also a compelling argument for me (the 29 in classifieds is an example of lots of round snaps around the open bow deck padding). Not sure why but it also seems there is less pull/stretch around the oval type than the round snaps. I'm guessing that is because the ring grommet has a better purchase on the canvas with the oval type.

I'm also considering the bungee loop/plastic button style for the back of the cockpit cover behind the sun pad with the buttons placed just below the swim step grab rail.

I'm leaning toward the oval blade type but thought it made sense to get a read from some you on your preferences or experiences before riddling the virgin deck.
Open to all ideas and approaches.
Feel free to post pic.s too!

Thanks in advance!

-Paul

My .02 cents.. don't add any of them. To me it just takes away from the look - clean lines. I had snaps on my first Lavey and it worked well. They were on there when I got the boat. But if you have to add them....snaps are better. Not as tall...like the twist things. Twist things also " catch" stuff like swimsuits, putting on a full cover, cleaning the boat with a towel... they seem to get in the way more.

x2
UD

Schweeng, UD,
Thanks for the input. I gathered from the scarceness of responses that no one (myself included) is all that enthusiastic about violating the cleanliness and aesthetics of the boat. I honestly cringe at the thought. Tough decision as it is frequently the case we get rain showers while out and it would be nice to be able to cover the bow. I'll be storing on a lift and have ordered a canopy so it should not be an issue at the dock. Might try just a draw-string full mooring cover for while it is on the lift and not in use and see how that goes.

What are these "Rain showers" you speak of?
All kidding aside Id just throw a cover on it.

Like Chris says on top of looking at them everywhere, and having them rust or go loose- these things always snag something or someone.

In "Ocean mode" we never leave the boat, but in "Lake mode"- we're climbing on an off everywhere all the time.

UD

Yeah, I'm sure you guys could use some of the the precip we have been inundated with as of late.

With our typical usage, we are in/out and on/off the boat frequently while out although I cant say the snaps or fasteners have been a big issue there. It is more the unsightliness and issues with maintenance (waxing, coming loose etc) that bother me.
Admittedly, I have not had the canopy for my lift in the past so as I think about it, most of the on and off of the covers on previous boats was with them sitting at the dock to keep from getting rained on which should be alleviated with the canopy. We do get caught out frequently with rather heavy rain which has the tendency to really soak the interior becoming a hasstle because I don't like to cover it wet (mold issues etc). With the canopy, things wil be quite different and I can probably get away with just a proper full cover (that can be used as a mooring cover), not to mention the $$ I can save.
Thanks and glad I asked....

Ive had a house with a dock but never a lift- Id say where you live go with a canopy on the lift and if you need more put a cover on.

I can tell you what doesn't work in the midwest or East- that works beautifully out here is a cloth interior. On the colorado river same setup is magic.
I was miserable when I went to chicago for a week with that setup. Did a 3000 mile trip - to annihilate a buddy with a big mouth and no experience you know a " 100 MPH Sea Ray guy" - the race ended predictably.



We got 3 totally different kinds of boating here.

1. Ocean-
2 Inland lake/ river- a lot lil what you guys have
3.Desert lake /river- you guys dont have anything like this in the East.
The ocean is always great and miserable the same day between morning and afternoon.

We have 2 distinct water "systems" the Colorado Systems and the Sierra system.

Inland lakes and rivers will be dry this season the Sierra system is at 35% - ouch

Desert lakes and rivers are going to be great - the colorado system is at 113% for the year and still has a month to go before max pack. This will replenish Powell and Mead somewhat giving us lots of flow on the lower rivers for the season and lots of depth (enough for the cut at powell) in the summer.

The 2750 is too big to fit comfortably in some of these place, desert rivers, where 18-24 is norm- your just a douchebag with a big rig, and it hard to maneuver. Some small inland lakes are too small and you can't rent slips at places like Naci if you tell the m the truth as 24 is the larges standard size in Aramark serviced lakes. so although you can go- its a hassle.


- But its like a big ole cadillac on the big lakes and river systems delivering huge range with enough speed to impress all your buddies and scare the chicks.

and the 20.8 not big enough for others. - Ocean, Mead on bad day, Powell on bad day, and uncomfortable on the way home when blown out, on havasu- but a total 911 turbo on rivers and smaller calmer lakes- a total Q ship like a shark amongst minnows You drive through races for days before you get a serious challenge. (not at parker)

This is why i have 2 boats.

UD