Maintaining the canvas clip/snaps

B

baz

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Jun 19, 2009
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Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
At the Fisherman's Terminal meet this past weekend I picked a good tip on how to maintain the clips/snaps on all the canvas.

This tip was from Walldog (Willies Tug) via Vicki/Bruce Moondance.

The snaps can get green and slightly corroded over time making them not only difficult to pull apart but also difficult to snap together. From my experience snapping the clips has gotten progressively harder over some 3 years of use... and to the point where a great deal of thumb pressure has to be applied to close the snaps securely. When pulling the clips apart I'm always fearful I'm going to tear the canvas and leave the clip engaged -- making for an expensive repair task.

The tip is to use a Soy Lube SL-100

Taken from the sales literature...

Non-Toxic & Ozone Safe:
Finally…An effective non-aerosol lubricant that’s safe for you and the earth. Most petroleum-based lubricants are harmful or fatal if swallowed. Biokleen Soy Lube SL-100’s biobased formula is made entirely from renewable resources for an effective lubricant that lasts longer and is less hazardous than mainstream alternatives.
• PENETRATES stuck/slow moving parts
• CLEANS with dissolving action
• PROTECTS against corrosion and rust
• SEALS and dries out moisture

This can be obtained online at http://biokleenhome.com/products/household/soy or at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...E+SL-100&rh=n:3760901,k:SOY+LUBE+SL-100&ajr=0

I have bought mine from http://www.alice.com/account_center

Vicki says to use a Q-tip to apply the Soy Lube to the male and female clips. Only a small amount for each clip is necessary, so a small bottle should last a long time if used say once every 3 or 6 month intervals.

Thanks Walldog (Herb) and especially Vicki for this tip.
 
Another thing that works is a clear silicone grease. Ours is a 1 1/2 ounce tube labled Sil-Glyde. But since we have used it on three boats so far, over nearly 20 years, I don't know if that particular brand can still be found. But you can see that a small amount goes a long way.

We put it on using a toothpick and apply very small amounts, only inside the "cap" portion of the snap, particularly on the spring. Then snapping/unsnapping a few times distributes it inside the cap and under the spring in there without leaving any significant amount on the stud portion. If it looks like any significant amount gets on the stud prortion, we wipe that off with a cloth.

There are special "lifting" tools available to lift the cap portion, and we had one on our sailboat. However, I found that if I just kept the snaps lubed they would snap on easier and come apart with little effort and rarely used it. More of a product for ships chandlers to peddle than for ships owners to really need.
 
Try Chapstick. I have been using it for years on my snaps and lips, not the same stick though. Just take the end and with light pressure twist the stick a bit and then snap together a few times. The stuff will last through a boating season and then some.
 
Sil-Glyde is found at most automotive stores...
 
Plain old petroleum jelly also works well...
 
Thanks for the chapstick advice. So simple and works great!!

My tug is red so I used the Cherry flavored .......probably.....doesn't matter......never mind.
 
There are 2 kinds of snaps plated brass which turn green or all stainless which will last a lot longer.

I replaced all my screw in snaps on the boat with the stainless and when I have to replace any on the canvas I make sure to use the stainless ones.

There is a plastic tool to unsnap the snaps that works great or I will carefully use a screwdriver rather than pulling the canvas and wrecking the snaps.
 
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