Boat cover

[Gramas]

Looking to somehow make use of the huge wagon side curtain my best mate got me from his work , this is heavy tarpaulin and although laid out over the entire rib I was hoping there may be way of shaping / stitching so that is custom fit , was quoted £600 for company to do this which was mental.
From what I see on other covers they made from several shapes sewen together, guessing an industrial machine require?
Advice most welcome even if calling me cheapskate haha
Regards gragam

[Festinghouse]

youve got the perfect material there - ive just made my cover out of similar. forget stitching it, weld it. ive done mine using a heat gun and a wallpaper seam roller. as for shaping it its pretty simple, get the material to sit flat as possible then gather up slack in various places, cut at these points and allow the two 'flaps' to overlap each other and mark up the points where the overlaps lie - remove from boat, line up the flaps again and weld. take your time and think about how you want each part to sit around your boat. its essential that you clean with solvent cleaner before welding as it just wont stick otherwise!

[Gramas]

I'm a complete novice !!!! How does the materiel bond???? I've got a heat gun for wallpaper stripping

[Festinghouse]

yep, that will do. as said, you are welding - the definition of which is melting two parts together so they become one. use the heat gun to soften the pvc enough so that when you go over it firmly with the roller it sticks the two together. you will know when its too hot as it will smoke. im sure youve got plenty of material there to allow you to have a practice before committing yourself to the actual cover. ive found it pretty easy after only a bit of practice. if you look at the curtain itself you will be able to see that it will have been welded already.

[Gramas]

Cool well can't do any harm trying mate, cheers

[Festinghouse]

let me know how you get on, pm me if need be

[Gramas]

Yeah thanks if get stuck will ask for help, cheers