Routine Inspections, Scheduled Maintenance & Cleaning of RNR-Marine™ Products

In order to safely enjoy your product, maintain its beauty and increase its longevity, it is critical that you perform Routine Inspections, Scheduled Maintenance and Cleaning.

It is important to perform a quick, Routine Inspection of your product before every use. It is equally important to perform Scheduled Maintenance and Cleaning of your product. The following tables describe what should be inspected and maintained before and after each use, what maintenance is required on a regular basis, and how to clean your product without damaging it..

If a problem is found, it must be repaired/replaced immediately, prior to use, to avoid safety issues.

Failure to perform regular, routine inspections, scheduled maintenance, repair/replacement of broken parts or basic cleaning will void your warranty and release RNR-Marine, Inc. from any liability for damage or injury through use of the product.

Routine & Scheduled Maintenance: T-Topless™, Montauk-T-Topless™, Shadow™ & Montauk-Shadow™:

• Every Use - Every time you use the top:
  
  • Routine Inspections - Before Every Use:
    1. Check structural integrity of top (Is everything square, welds good?),
    2. Check front pivot bolts for wear and make sure clamps, screws and nuts are tight,
    3. Make sure rear legs' quick-release pin is firmly installed and locking tab is turned 90° to prevent it from coming out accidentally,
    4. Make sure your boat's windshield grab rails are firmly affixed and structurally sound (no broken welds or loose screws),
    5. Make sure the console is firmly attached to the floor of the boat,
    6. Make sure canvas lacing is tight and not nicked or broken,
    7. Check navigation light (if so equipped) before going out at night.
    
    
  • Routine Maintenance - After Every Use:
    1. In saltwater: Wash down your top, frame and bolts with freshwater.
    2. Make sure your fingers, rods, gear, family, etc. are out of the way when you SLOWLY fold down your top.
    3. Wash and carefully dry your Clear Vinyl (see below) after every use.
  
  
• Scheduled Maintenance:
  
  • Every 50 hours of use or annually (whichever comes first):
    1. Remove front legs' pivot nuts/bolts (2). If the bolt (1/4-20x1.25" Stainless) is worn more than 5%, it must be replaced. Re-install with grease on thread to avoid galling and locking up of the stainless-to-stainless threads. Do NOT over-tighten over 10 ft-lbs of torque!
    2. Check 1/4-20x1/4" cap screws (do not over-tighten):
       1. Pivoting "eyelet" at Bottom of Rear-Legs,
       2. Jaw-Slide where Rear-Legs attach to top frame.
    3. Check Rail-Clamps to make sure they are tight, and not damaged,
    4. Check screws or bolts attaching windshield grab rails to console to make sure they are tight,
    5. Check screws or bolts attaching console to the boat's deck to make sure they are tight.
  
  
• Optional Maintenance:
  • Cleaning (see below)

Scheduled and Routine Maintenance: Flats-Top™

• Every Use - Every time you use the top:
  
  • Routine Inspections - Before Every Use:
    1. Visually check structural integrity of top, poling platform and deck mounts (is everything square and solid?),
    2. Check mounting bolts (through poling platform) to insure they're tight.
    
    
  • Routine Maintenance - After Every Use:
    1. In saltwater: Wash down your top, frame and bolts with freshwater.
  
  
• Scheduled Maintenance:
  
  • Every 50 hours of use or annually (whichever comes first):
    1. Remove Flats-Top removal nuts/bolts (2). If the bolts (1/4-20x2", 10-24x2" or 5/6-18x2" Stainless) are worn more than 5%, it must be replaced. Re-install with grease on thread to avoid galling and locking up of the stainless-to-stainless threads. Do NOT over-tighten over 10 ft-lbs of torque!
  
  
• Optional Maintenance:
  • Cleaning (see below)

Cleaning Stainless Steel, Sunbrella® and Clear Vinyl:

• If your canvas, clear vinyl or stainless frame are dirty, you may clean them as follows:
  
  
  • Sunbrella® Canvas or Assembled Top (Stainless Frame and Sunbrella® Canvas)
    Per http://www.sunbrella.com/cleaning/marine-tops-covers.php or download Marine tops and covers cleaning (pdf) guide:
    • When it’s time for a thorough cleaning, Sunbrella® fabrics can be cleaned while still on a boat or, size permitting, they can be removed for cleaning in a washing machine or dockside. When cleaning Sunbrella fabrics, it is important to observe the following:
      1. Always use a mild detergent such as Woolite or Dawn dishwashing liquid.
      2. Water should be cold to lukewarm.
      3. Rinse thoroughly to remove all detergent residue.
      4. Air dry only. Never apply heat to Sunbrella fabrics.
    • General or light cleaning
      To clean Sunbrella while still on a boat, follow these simple steps:
      1. Brush off loose dirt.
      2. Hose down.
      3. Prepare a cleaning solution of water and mild detergent such as Woolite or Dawn dishwashing liquid.
      4. Use a soft bristle brush to clean.
      5. Allow cleaning solution to soak into the fabric.
      6. Rinse thoroughly until all detergent residue is removed.
      7. Air dry.
      8. May not require re-treatment depending on the age of the fabric.
    • Heavy cleaning for stubborn stains and mildew: If stubborn stains persist, you can use a diluted chlorine bleach/detergent mixture for spot cleaning of mildew, roof run-off or other similar stains (see Sunbrella's Stain chart for specific recommendations).
      Sunbrella® fabric does not promote mildew growth, however, mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed from the fabric. To clean mildew, or other stubborn stains:
      1. (Eight ounces (one cup) of chlorine bleach.
      2. Two ounces (1/4 cup) of mild soap and/or detergent.
      3. One gallon of water.
      4. Clean with soft bristle brush.
      5. Allow mixture to soak into the fabric for up to 15 minutes. )
      6. Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue is removed.
      7. Air dry.
      8. Repeat if necessary.
      9. Re-treatment of fabric for water and stain resistance may be necessary.
    • To "Waterproof" and further protect your Sunbrella®, use 303 Fabric Guard (Video), which is the only product endorsed by Glenn Raven Mills®, manufacturer of Sunbrella® Marine Fabric.
    • Material should be thoroughly dry before prolonged storage.
    
    Herculite® Weblon® Regatta® and Stamoid® Canvas
    • Keep clean. Occasional hosing will prevent dirt accumulation. Most dirt accumulation can be removed by soap, water and brush or strong detergent. Rinse thoroughly. In extreme cases, most dirt can be removed by applying a full or half strength bleach and brushing softly to cover thoroughly the necessary area. Allow to remain for two to three minutes, then thoroughly hose-rinse, protecting surrounding material or plant growth that might be damaged by bleach.
    • In areas particularly conducive to mildew, brush away any visible accumulation of dirt on underside. Mildew cannot attack the canvas, but it can grow on dirt!
    • During removal and reinstallation, avoid dragging over rough or hard areas which can puncture the canvas or develop frictional heat at the folds.
    • Material should be thoroughly dry before prolonged storage.
    • Imar® products makes Stamoid® Marine Vinyl Cleaner #603, which (per their site): "is specially formulated to gently but thoroughly clean STAMOID® and other vinyl without harming Strataglass® or any other clear vinyl if overspray or runoff occurs when used according to the instructions. Frequent use is recommended, particularly in areas of high environmental pollution. Application will assure the continued like-new appearance of your yacht’s vinyl. (Use before IMAR #601 & IMAR #602)"
    
    
  • Phifertex® Gear Loft
    • http://www.phifer.com/CleaningPhifertex.aspx
    
    
  • Clear Vinyl (aka Eisenglass) and Strataglass® Coated Clear Vinyl
    • Clear Vinyl windows are damaged by water spotting, UV light and cracking.
    • As Strataglass® notes: DO NOT HANDLE ANY Clear and Vinyl Materials With SUNSCREEN ON YOUR HANDS... This can permanently cloud the vinyl material where handled.
    • AVOID: All waxes, suntan lotion(permanent damage), suncreen (permanent damage), Rain-X, Pledge, Plexus and Windex!
    • Strataglass® recommends using ONLY:
      • Mild soap (preferably IMAR Yacht Soap Concentrate 401),
      • IMAR Strataglas Protective Cleaner 301,
      • IMAR Strataglass Protective Polish 302,
      • After Sep 30, 2004, using any other product(s) voids the Strataglass® factory warranty,
      • Official Strataglass® Care & Maintenance Instructions
    • To clean your Clear Vinyl:
      • Salt Water - First remove salt water deposits with a salt neutralizer (Bio-Kleen® Salt Kleen® or Star-Brite® Salt-Off® and dry with a chamois or micro fiber towel.
      • Fresh Water - For fresh water, wash with a boat wash and dry with a chamois or micro fiber towel.
      • To prevent deterioration to your boat curtains, it is important to apply a protectant (Strataglass® Protective Cleaner® 301 or Bio-Kleen® Qwik Shine®) to the inside and outside of clear vinyl. Regularly maintain with this detailing spray, an easy spray-on/wipe-off application. Incorporated polymers in the product protect the vinyl curtains from becoming rigid and cloudy.
      • NEVER tow you boat with your Clear Vinyl in place, as it will be coated with road grime and oils (and beat the top up). These oils and grime may permenatently damage your Clear Vinyl.
      • Storage - when not using your boat, it is best to keep your Clear Vinyl out of the sun as much as possible, especially for longer winter storage.
        • Clean and dry your Clear Vinyl (above),
        • Apply protectant
        • If you have a good breathabale cover, simply cover the top and curtains/spray-shield,
        • Or, take them off carefully, laying them flat (if you have the room), hanging them flat in a closet, or rolling them loosely (as large a diameter as you have room to store them, even use a clean cotton towel between the layers in the roll) and storing them in a dry, dark place with nothing on top of them.
        • When you put your canvas back on, use Iosso E-Z Snap Zipper & Snap Lubricant to lubricate, waterproof, and reduce friction on snaps, zippers, hinges, and hardware. To use on a snap, simply place one drop in the head of the snap and open and close it a few times. To use on a zipper, place a drop in the middle of the zipper and work up and down a few times to distribute. If you have a lot of snaps (T-TOp Spray Shiled for example), use a Top Snapper Tool.
    
    
  • Stainless Steel Frame:
    • Clean Water and Wipe - The simplest, safest, and least costly method that will adequately do the job is always the best method. This can be done with the Sunbrella® canvas in place. Stainless surfaces thrive with frequent cleaning because there is no surface coating to wear off stainless steels. A soft cloth and clean warm water should always be the first choice for mild stains and loose dirt and soils. A final rinse with clean water and a dry wipe will complete the process and eliminate the possibility of water stains.
    • More rigorous cleaning of a stained surface will require removal of the Sunbrella® and Phifetex® canvas, per http://www.ssina.com/download_a_file/cleaning.pdf:
      • Solvent Cleaning - Organic solvents can be used to remove fresh fingerprints, oils and greases that have not had time to oxidize or decompose. The preferred solvent is methyl alcohol. Do NOT use solvents which contain chlorine, acetone, MEK, lacquer thinner, paint thinner or mineral spirits which will damage the Sunbrella fabric such as methyl alcohol. There are many compounded or blended organic cleaners that are commercially available and attempt to optimize both clean-ability and safety attributes. Cleaning can by performed by wiping with the solvent or by sophisticated vapor or spray methods.
      • Household Cleaners - Household cleaners fall into two categories: detergent (non-abrasive) and abrasive cleaners, which we do NOT recommend. Both are effective for many mild dirt, stain, and soil deposits, as well as light oils such as fingerprints. A neutral cleaner low in chloride is preferred. The fact that the label states "for stainless steel" is no guarantee that the product is not abrasive, not acidic, or low in chloride. The cleaning method generally employed with these cleaners is to apply them to the stainless surface and follow by cloth wiping, or to wipe directly with a cleaner-impregnated soft cloth. In all cases, the cleaned surface should be thoroughly rinsed with clean freshwater and wiped dry with a soft cloth if water streaking is a consideration.
      • Commercial Cleaners - Many commercial cleaners compounded from phosphates, synthetic detergents, and alkalis are available for the cleaning of severely soiled or stained stainless surfaces. When used with a variety of cleaning methods, these cleaners can safely provide effective cleaning, however consideration must be given to the Sunbrella® fabric. Manufacturers should be consulted and their recommendations followed whenever using cleaners of this kind. The general precautions stated above also pertain to these cleaners.

• Factory Original-Equipment (OEM) Boat Canvas and Covers :
  • Canvas & Cover Fabric: Sunbrella® Marine Fabric & Colors ... Weblon® Regatta Fabric & Colors ... Stamoid® Fabric & Colors ... Top Gun® Fabric & Colors ... Canvas/Covers Maintenance & Cleaning ... Clear-Vinyl & Strataglass® Coated Vinyl Maintenance & Cleaning
  • Canvas Types: Bimini-Top Canvas ... T-Top Canvas ... T-Top Spray-Shield ... T-Top Gull-Wings ... more ...
  • Canvas Installation Instuctions: Lacing on T-Top Replacement Canvas ... T-Top Spray-Shield Installation ... Installing Male Snap Stud Screws in Aluminum T-Top ... Drilling holes in Fiberglass for Male Snap Stud Screws ...
  • Care: Canvas Care & Cleaning ... Eisenglass and Strataglass® Cleaning & Care
  • Verifying your Boat: Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) AFTER Aug 01, 1984 ... Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) BEFORE Aug 01, 1984 ...
    Each of our boat manufacturers' canvas pages have Photos of the Factory OEM T-Tops, Hard-Top, Bimini-Tops, Canvas, etc. at the bottom of the page for verification (Sea Hunt® Photos for example). Please compare your boat against these photos to insure you have the Original-Equipment (OEM) Top frame from the Factory (some dealers, like Chatlee in NC and Ed's Marine Superstoe in VA, for example, install their own, after-market T-Tops). Our Factory OEM canvas does not fit after-market Tops! Boston Whaler®, Sea Ray® and Grady White® do NOT allow dealers to install their own, after-market tops on new boats, so these are typically Factory OEM, unless an owner installed their own top.
  
  
• T-Topless™, Montauk-T-Topless™, Shadow™ & Montauk-Shadow™ Folding T-Tops and Flats-Top™ "Shade for Flats Boats"™ :
  • Customer: Comments ... Photos ... Videos ... Avoid Skin Cancer
  • Compare: Top and T-Top Specifications and Comparison ... Made in the USA, NOT China like Fishmaster® and Stryker® ... Competition ... T-Top Models
  • Details: FAQs ... $avings ... Why Stainless? ... NO Holes or Wood Screws! ... Strong? ... Garage Tips Colors
  • What fits your Boat? Measure Center Console Boat for T-Topless™ or Shadow™ ... Measure Flats Boat for Flats-Top™ ... Measure your boat for Mooring Cover
  • T-Topless™ Options: LED Light | T-Topless™ Gear Loft ... T-Topless™ Spray-Shield ... T-Topless™ Gull-Wings ...
  • Montauk-T-Topless™ Options: Montauk-T-Topless™ Gear Loft ... Montauk-T-Topless™ Spray-Shield ... Montauk-T-Topless™ Gull-Wings
  • Shadow™ and Montauk-Shadow™ Options: Shadow™ Stabilizer ... Shadow™ Stabilizer ...
  • Installation: T-Topless™ Installation ... Montauk-T-Topless™ Installation ... Shadow™ Installation ... Lacing Canvas on a T-Top ... Flats-Top™ Installation
  • Care: T-Top and Flats-Top Maintenance ... Canvas Care & Cleaning ... Eisenglass and Strataglass® Cleaning & Care
  • Warranty: Industry Leading 10-Year Frame Warranty Sunbrella® 10-Year Fabric Warranty
  
  
• We sell, DIRECT TO THE PUBLIC, all years (1980s forward, except the current model year) Factory Original-Equipment-Manufacturer (OEM) Canvas and Covers made of Sunbrella® Welbon®, Stamoid®, Top Gun®, Clear Vinyl and Strataglass® created, installed at the factory and originally sold for Baha Cruisers®, Caravelle®, Cobia®, Everglades®, Glassmaster®, Key West®, Mariah®, McKee Craft®, Palmetto Custom®, Pioneer®, Sea Boss®, Sea Fox®, Sea Hunt®, Sea-Pro® and Tidewater®, Astro®, Baja®, Bayliner®, Bombardier®, Boston Whaler®, Centurion®, Champion®, Cobalt®, Edgewater®, Four Winns®, Gecko®, Grady White®, Hurricane by Godfrey®, Mako®, Malibu®, MasterCraft®, Maxum®, Monterey®, Moomba®, Nautic Star®, Pro Sports®, PROCraft®, Regal®, Scout®, Sea-Doo®, Sea Ray®, Stratos®, Sugar Sands®, Supra®, Tahoe®, Tige®, Triton®, Triton Pontoons® and Yamaha®, Aquasport®, Astro®, Baja®, Blue Point®, BostonWhaler®, Cape Horn®, Carolina Skiff®, Century®, Champion®, Chaparral®, Chris Craft®, Correct Craft®, Crownline®, Donzi®, Duroboat®, Ebbtide®, Edgewater®, Envision®, Fincraft®, Fineline®, Fish Hawk®, Four Winns®, Glastron®, Godfrey®, Gulfwinds®, Hurricane®, HydraSports®, JC Pontoon®, Jettus®, Larson®, Mako®, Marada®, Mastercraft®, Metal Shark®, Monterey®, Polar®, Polaris®, Premier Marine®, Pro Line®, Procraft®, Pursuit®, Ranger®, Regal®, Rinker®, Rizebo®, Robalo®, Sailfish®, Scout®, Sea-Pro®, Sea Ray®, Seaswirl®, Seminole Marine®, Skeeter®, Skiers Choice®, SmokerCraft®, Southwinds®, Starcraft®, Stealth®, Stratos®, Suncountry®, Sundance®, Thunderbird®, Tige®, Tracker®, Triton®, Triumph®, Trophy®, Weeres Palm Beach®, Wellcraft®, World Class®, Xtreme Marine®, Yamaha® boats.
  
  
• We sell at a discount (and without 6-12% Sales Tax) versus the local dealers since we "make-to-order" (Just-In-Time = JIT) using our inventory of 1,000's of patterns (no need to carry inventory) and thus our overhead is lower.
  
  
• Agreements with current boat manufacturers (Sea Hunt®, Grady White®, Key West®, Tidewater®, Sea Fox® & Pioneer® for example) often prevent us from selling the current production model year's "standard" color canvas direct to the public. Some (Boston Whaler® and Sea Ray® for example) allow us to sell direct, just like their own dealers. HOWEVER, we CAN usually sell the current year's canvas in NON-Standard colors or fabric, so call or email to check.
  
  
• We are the only provider of the Factory Original-Equipment (OEM) Canvas and Covers for several "orphaned" boat manufcaturers, who have closed for business and no longer have a dealer network to provide new or replacement canvas, covers or parts, including Baha Cruisers®, Mariah®, McKee Craft®, Palmetto Custom®, Sea Boss® and Sea-Pro® boats.

Some photos show optional items mounted on standard products. Descriptive, typographical or photographical errors are subject to correction. 72.44.48.122 ,