Covers and canvas
Boat covers and bimini tops in Gulfport, MS
The cover is what makes the seats last. Gulfport Boat Upholstery sews biminis, T-top canvas, mooring covers and enclosure panels in Sunbrella and marine polyester with thread that outlasts the cloth.
Call (228) 206-7732Why canvas fails on the Sound
Canvas on the Mississippi coast fails in a predictable order: thread first, zippers second, fabric last. Polyester thread sitting in the sun at Jones Park or Point Cadet breaks down in two or three summers, and a bimini with good cloth starts opening along every seam. Then the plastic zipper sliders corrode or the coil splits. The fabric itself, if it is Sunbrella, is often still sound at year eight. That order is why we sew with PTFE thread, use YKK stainless or marine-grade zippers, and offer restitching as its own line instead of pushing a new top.
Canvas work with the ranges
Bimini top re-cover
$600 to $1,500
New fabric patterned to your frame, with a zippered boot. Three and four bow frames on runabouts, pontoons and bay boats. Sunbrella or marine polyester.
Full mooring or storage cover
$900 to $2,500
Patterned to the boat so rain runs off instead of pooling on the rear bench. Support poles and tie-downs included. The single best purchase for seat life on a trailered or slip boat.
T-top canvas
$400 to $900
Replacement canvas for center console T-tops with rod holder cutouts and tension straps. Sunbrella recommended because T-tops face straight up all day.
Clear enclosure panels
$350 to $700
Strataglass or economy clear vinyl, priced per panel. Front and side panels for center consoles, wheelhouse windows for working boats.
Sail covers, dodgers and console covers are quoted from the same fabric and labor rates. Restitching canvas with sound cloth runs $60 to $150 per piece. Full table on the cost guide.
Fabric choices, plainly
| Fabric | Gulf lifespan | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sunbrella acrylic | 8 to 10 years | Biminis, T-tops, anything that stays up in the sun |
| Marine polyester | 4 to 6 years | Storage and mooring covers that come off in use |
| Strataglass clear vinyl | 5 to 7 years | Enclosure panels you look through every trip |
| Economy clear vinyl | 2 to 3 years | Wheelhouse side panels, budget enclosures |
Canvas questions
- Can you re-cover my bimini on the existing frame?
- Yes, if the frame is straight and the fittings are tight. That is the cheapest way to get a new top, $600 to $1,500 depending on bow count and fabric. A bent bow or corroded fittings get priced separately and we tell you at the dock visit.
- Sunbrella or a cheaper fabric?
- Sunbrella acrylic holds color for eight or more Gulf summers and costs about a third more than marine polyester. On a bimini that faces south all day, Sunbrella wins on cost per year. On a storage cover that comes off every weekend, polyester is fine.
- Why did my canvas fall apart at the seams when the fabric still looks good?
- Polyester thread. It rots in ultraviolet light years before good fabric does. We sew every seam with PTFE thread that carries a lifetime warranty against sun rot, and we can restitch canvas that still has good cloth for far less than replacing it.
- How much are clear enclosure panels?
- Strataglass or economy clear vinyl panels run $350 to $700 each depending on size, vinyl grade and zipper count. A full three-sided enclosure on a center console is usually three to five panels.