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Anyone purchased the mills canvas windscreen?

I have all the snaps into spec positions and per measurments with instructions, and I swear its too small. I can go from center snap to starboard but not port. If I even start at starboard it wont stretch all the way to port side of console.
Anyone have issues with this in past?

do I have to stretch these sunbrella suckers?

I emailed mills canvas to see if they can help.

just thought I would try in here too

thanks

John

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John

Sunbrella, made of a solution-dyed spun acrylic fiber, has no elastomeric properties and should not require "stretching" to fit a snap stud. Snug yes, stretching no.

Are you sure yours was cut from the correct pattern for your particular model?

If you continue to experience a problem, I suggest you call Suzanne at Mills in Greenport, NY. She is extremely helpful and most accommodating. You will get your answer in a flash.

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John,

That is strange. It would be good to hear what Mills has to say.
Do you have a copy of the installation instructions?
Can you email me a copy? Or send me a copy?
I would like to see the instruction sheet and also post it here on this site.

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guys

Suzanne at mills canvas sold me the one for the Katama but unless I am doing something wrong it is just tad short in length

Joe

I will scan and post the instructions a little later today.

thanks guys

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okay

here are a few pics, my dimensions are correct to the instructions. You can see if I snap the starboard side its close on the port but it just will not stretch to fit of the end of console and snap into place. I am sure my console is stock.

Joe attached is high res pdf of the instructions.

I will send this to Susan too and see what she says.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

john

[img]http://www.lpda.net/flyfishing/photos/js-bw-w1-lr.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.lpda.net/flyfishing/photos/js-bw-ws2-lr.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.lpda.net/flyfishing/photos/js-bw-ws3-lr.jpg[/img]

John, I put your drawing in the download section here:
http://www.whalercentral.com/download...p?cat_id=6

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John,

Here is what I see right off the get-go....

From the center snap to the edge of the console according to the drawing is 23 inches.
The Snap is placed 1 5/8 inches from the edge of the console.
These means the end snap should be 21 3/8 inches from the center snap. You show only 21 inches.
I think your end snap is 3/8 of an inch short.

Thanks for the drawing. I will put it in the Downloads section....

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Joe

When I measure the end snaps, they are real close to 1 5/8 from end of console. Maybe I wasnt holding the tape just right.

In any event, if I do not snap any of the snaps along the front, I just snap the starboard side to see if it can at least make the the turn on the port side, it will just not make it, even when stretch it really tight.
Maybe I am not doing something right?

John

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John,

Here's the way I see the drawing.

1. Center Snap in the Center....
2. End Snap is 21 3/8 inches from Center Snap.
3. The rest of the snaps fall in place where they are placed on the canvas windshield according to the drawing.

The only snaps they give you dimensions for are the center and end snaps.... The rest of the snaps are matched up to the windshield snaps.
They only give you 3 dimensions.
1. The distance from the top of the console to the center of the snap
2. The center snap to the edge of the console which is 23 inches
3. The distance from the edge of the console which is 23 inches MINUS 1 5/8 inches from that.
That leaves a distance of 21 3/8 inches from the center snap to the end snap.

At this point I would measure the distance from the center snap and the end snap on the windshield itself. What is that dimension? It should be 21 3/8 inches. If it isn't, then the canvas has either shrunk a lot or the snaps were not put in place properly in the windshield.

I love a good mystery but I sure hope you don't have to re-drill any holes...

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Joe

So if my center snap is in the right position (23" ) and I snap this first, I should have enough lenght in windscreen to reach around the starboard and port side of the console right? Even if my end snaps are off? I think I tried this with no success. I also noticed, when I snap it in place, there is a gap at the top more than 5/8" from the bar, making me suspect its a little too small.

However you may be right, from what you described my end snaps may be off messing this up.

Tomorrow I am going to check all the dimensions and give it another shot.

I will report back to you.

At this point if I have to drill some holes I dont care. I havent drilled any holes yet, they were all factory holes, a few were a little to wide so I added epoxy to close them down and accept the screw snap.

Will let you know if I have success tomorrow.

thanks again!! :)

John

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Joe

well I checked the windshield this morning and no go. The console measurements are real close to your numbers and the directions. However this time I also measured the canvas to see if it was big enough and it is much small. If you measure from center snap on canvas to 23 inches its into the snap around the corner. Basically the directions seem right but not the canvas.

Will talk with mill canvas and see if they can correct this.


thanks

John

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Joe

Just an update

spoke with mills canvas, they realized they are having some fit issues. They will take it back and give me a new one, no questions asked, very nice folks. I am going to mail it back with a heavy paper template with the snaps marked to get it spot-on.

John

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John,

I can't say enough good things about Mills.
They have always treated me and everyone I know with great satisfaction.
I see no reason for me to buy anything other than Mills for my Classic Whalers.
Let us know how the new windshield fits when you get it.

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Joe, after too much delay, windshield on. I recieved a new one from mills with no snaps. FYI there are finding that many folks with katamas are having alignment issues. I tried to get a local awning place to install snaps but he was not helpful. I bought a snap kit at a local hardware with a punch device to set the snaps into the windshield sunbrella, it worked very well. The only gripe, a little smaller than factory installation. Just no way to have 5/8" gap on top, but I actually like more of the gap, can still grip the rail.

For anyone wanting a windshield for katama from mills, I recommend getting it without snaps, intall screw snaps in console per instructions, however watch/check end snaps before setting, lace it up and duck tap the bottom of windshield to get position. Mark with pencil, drill a little hole, then install snap with punch device. I recommend the punch device that has a plastic base (less wear on the back of snap).

http://www.whalercentral.com/forum/at...-06-lr.jpg

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That looks real good now John.
Glad things worked out for you. Mills is a great company as you just found out.