PAINTED CANVAS ON PAINTED DECK

[Levi]

Could use some help here. The last time I laid canvas on a strip deck was about 40 years ago when everyone was doing it because we were still in awe of fiberglass products. My dilema now in 2004 is where to find good canvas suitable to restore a 60 year old sloop's small deck. And also what paint is best to use. I dont want to take a 2nd mortage on the farm to obtain supplies and I am not really near any supply houses that might have what I should use.

I think it would be fitting to put this sloop back in the water the way she went in many years ago with her deck in nice looking condition. I realize glass would be more waterproof and seal things better
but I kinda want to try canvas here.

Any tips on procedure for this small operation would be really appreciated, such as type of canvas, paint to use, and any tricks for application that might have evolved over the years. Thanks all.

LEVI

[Carlsboats]

defender sells canvas for deck covering. It's the old style stuff -- cotton, heavy, rough weave --which means it gives you a surface with good non-skid properties.
Don't know about any new technologies for putting it on, but I just had good success with the old-style system: Prime paint any bare spots so the whole surface is sealed. Then rough the surface as though you were going to paint it again. Stretch canvas as tight as you can get it by hand, and tack in place. Thoroughly dampen the surface with water to make the canvas shrink. Let it dry a bit, but while it is still damp, put on a thinned coat of primer. The water will migrate through the paint, and the canvas will stay drum tight. At least that's what it says in the book, and that's what has happened when I have done it.

[LIMIN]

I have put canvas on boat tops and upstair porches a number of times.This has worked for me. Be sure to get the canvas rolled not folded as it is very hard to get the creases out. Put down 90 pound building felt then lay canvas on top but not fasten down at this time. Borrow wifes steam iron and iron all wrinkles out. Fasten with stainless steel staples leaving 2 to 3 inches excess at edge. Paint well with coppertox or net dip. This will mix with the tar in building felt and the canvas will be a color of mixture of green and brown. Sprinkle very lighly with water to tighten up. When tight fold excess canvas at edge back over doubling it and fasten again. Put wood trim to cover edge. Do not use oak for trin as it will rot the canvas. Fill the weave of canvas with Jesso bought from art store. Jesso is used by artists to fill a canvas before they paint. Sand lightly to smooth but not in the weave of the canvas.If there is a gap between the trim and canvas fill with 5200. Paint with a good porch and deck enemal.The canvas should last 10 to 15 years with a light sanding and a coat of paint once a year.

[Jay Greer]

Hi,
I've laid many canvas decks in my time. Just finished one on our H28 Bright Star. We obtained our canvas from Seattle Canvas. It is especialy designed for decking and can be shrunk with hot water. We trowled on genuine white lead thinned with raw linseed oil and turps. Used monel staples to tack the edges, which were pulled as tight as we could make it. Used a heavy plastic squeegy to flatten things out and poured boiling water directly on the surface to shrink it. While still wet we laid on a coat of semi gloss oil based house paint thinned with turps. Next day we laid on another coat of thin paint. House paint will chalk when it ages and is better than marine enamel for canvas. White lead can be purchased from George Kirby Jr. Paint Co. or Sandusky Paint Co.
Jay Greer/Common Sense Boat & Tool Co.