Trojan Boat Forum

How do everyone!
We bought our Trojan (1978 F32) back in 9/09 and I have been visiting this forum since. What a great source for not only Trojan info but general boating issues as well!!

I am currently replacing the manifolds and risers. I plan on taking off a week in March to get her ready for a week one April launch (hopefully)!

We currently have blue canvas/Bimini including a windshield screen. I would like to change all the canvas to black to match the hull, glass trim, and striping. I am a little concerned about the extra heat this may draw, especially in the salon. I'm looking for the pros and cons before putting out the money.

All the canvas on my F-36 is 'Grady White' blue and I wish the windshield cover was white or better yet the white screen shade material that you can see through. The dark blue really heats up the salon in the summer and if it's really hot outside exceeds the capacity of the A/C.

Welcome to the forum Eric ....

Oh yeah...and welcome to the forum.

Charcoal grey to not show the dirt?

I originally was going to go with white canvas but rimp (the admiral) wanted black, guess who won. The heat in the summer is why I had the canvas guy put in all those zippered roll up windows and in the winter the extra heat from the canvas is a good thing for the admiral plus her and I both like the looks. Here is a picture before the canvas and one after adding the canvas.

White will go with everything , grey would look good also

Thanks everyone!!! I have a feeling that the color will need some more thought. I like the white and I guess it could be cleaned with a mild bleach solution if stained. Grey is interesting choice as well.

Depending on the thread used to sew the panels together bleach water will degrade the threads that hold the canvas together. There are a lot of good canvas cleaners out there that will work better. I learned this the hard way.

No bleach on canvas.
Here is recommended care:
Sunbrella® fabric should be cleaned regularly before substances such as dirt, dust, bird droppings etc. are allowed to accumulate on and become embedded in the fabric. The fabric can be cleaned without being removed from the frame. Simply brush off any loose dirt, dust etc.; hose down and clean with a mild solution of natural soap in luke warm water (no more than 100°F). Rinse thoroughly to remove soap.
Do Not Use Detergents. Allow to air dry.

For more stubborn cases: Soak the fabric for approximately twenty minutes in a solution of no more than 1/2 cup (4oz) of a non-chlorine bleach and 1/4 cup (2oz) natural soap per gallon of water approximately 100°F. Rinse thoroughly in cold water to remove all the soap. Note: Excessive soaking in non-chlorine bleach can deteriorate sewing threads. This method of cleaning may remove part of the water repellency and the fabric should receive an application of an air-curing fluorocarbon water repellent treatment. (Such as 303 water repellent - the only repellent approved by Sunbrella®), if water repellency is a factor.

I have a Sunbrella white mesh on the windshield. It is similar to Phifertex, but Phifertex is more of a polymer plastic (and will dry out and crack over time), and as a result you need to be careful about how much you bend / fold it, while the Sunbrella stuff is really a mesh of cloth. Really cuts down on heat and visibility in to the boat, but still allows some visibility out (though I wouldn't drive from the lower station with it in place).

My bridge cover is black Sunbrella - I don't think that really contributes to the heat inside the boat in any significant way, but does cook the flybridge a bit. The biggest sources of heat in the interior are more likely sun beating down on the windshield, side windows, and salon doors. I have found that simply closing the curtains and drapes helps a bit.