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Custom Boat Covers, Bimini Tops, and Canvas Repair

A good cover protects your boat's upholstery, electronics, and deck from sun, rain, leaves, and snow. A bad one, or a torn one, lets water pool, mildew grow, and dirt pile up all season. Don's Auto Interiors & Tops makes and repairs boat canvas at our Alsip shop. It's the same shop that's been doing convertible tops since 1977, and a lot of the skills carry over: patterning, fitting fabric to a frame, and stitching that holds up to weather.

Custom canvas we make

• Custom canvas boat covers and tops
• Mooring covers: for boats kept in the water or on a lift
• Jet ski and WaveRunner covers
• Custom covers for equipment and trailers. Our commercial side also makes tarps and custom covers. See commercial upholstery.

Custom covers are patterned to your boat, so they fit around the windshield, rails, and other hardware instead of sagging the way universal covers do. A tight fit sheds water and resists wind.

Canvas repairs

Most canvas doesn't fail all at once. One part gives out first. We repair:

• Snaps: replacing pulled or corroded snaps and fasteners
• Zippers: on enclosures, covers, and cushions
• Windows: replacing clouded, cracked, or brittle clear windows
• Seams: restitching where UV has rotted the original thread
• Tears and chafe spots: patching and reinforcing where the cover rubs

Repair or replace?

We do a simple test. If the fabric is still strong and only a seam, zipper, or window has failed, a repair makes sense. If the fabric tears easily, has gone thin and chalky, or has been patched repeatedly, UV has done its damage and a new cover will save you money over time.

Fit and weather in the Chicago area

Our boaters deal with strong summer sun, spring and fall storms, and winters that put snow load on anything left outside. A few things we keep in mind when building or repairing a cover:

• Support and drainage: a cover that holds water or snow stretches, tears, and can damage what's under it. Poles, bows, or a proper fit around the windshield keep water moving off.
• Ventilation: covers need to breathe so mildew doesn't grow underneath during storage.
• Tie-downs: wind is hard on a loose cover, especially on a trailer at highway speed.

Timing your canvas work

The fall and winter are the easiest time to get canvas work done. Bring us your old cover or enclosure after the season so repairs or a replacement are ready before spring launch. New covers that need to be fitted to the boat require a visit to see the boat, so call us to plan it.

Boat interiors too

If your seats are cracked or your carpet is shot, we handle that as well. See boat upholstery and marine seat repair. Doing canvas and upholstery at the same time means one drop-off and one estimate.

Caring for your canvas between seasons

A few habits make canvas last longer:

• Rinse off dirt and bird droppings with fresh water. Grit wears fibers and stitching.
• Let canvas dry before storing it so mildew doesn't start.
• Don't fold clear windows tightly. Roll them or store them flat to avoid creases and cracks.
• Lubricate zippers and snaps with a product made for marine hardware so they don't seize.
• Fix small problems early. A popped seam or a missing snap is a quick repair. Left alone, it lets wind tear the fabric further.

Get a free estimate

Call (708) 371-8020 or send photos and your boat's make, model, and length. We're at 11937 S. Cicero Ave, Alsip, IL 60803, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., serving boaters from Chicago, the south and southwest suburbs, and Northwest Indiana.

Request a free estimate or call (708) 371-8020.