Dinghy Chaps Question

[sailPDQ36]

All,

I have recently constructed a set of chaps for my dinghy. I used the shock cord method to control the outside edge, but I am looking for recommendations on how to affix the chaps to the inside of the dinghy. I guess I am leaning towards making patches to glue to the inside that have the male side of a button snap on them and then attaching the cover this way, but I am open to suggestions. Any ideas?

Regards,
Tom
Dream Catcher

[AnchorageGuy]

That is exactly how we attached ours and it worked just fine.

[captain465]

Velcro might be eaiser on the legs when not usin the chaps.........

[AnchorageGuy]

Originally Posted by captain465

Velcro might be eaiser on the legs when not usin the chaps.........

We tried velcro but it just did not last long in the elements. Maybe using a different grade would have made a difference but we never had an issue with the snaps. They don't have any sharp edges and you don't need that many.

[imagine2frolic]

Velcro on my 10 yr old Caribe finally gave it up. I think the snaps might get a wee bit hot?

[AnchorageGuy]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

Velcro on my 10 yr old Caribe finally gave it up. I think the snaps might get a wee bit hot?

The snaps don't go on top of the tubes. As a matter of fact they are far enough down that you would have to really work at it to even touch them. So for us anyway, using the dinghy in the tropics, the snaps never got hot or never chafed or scratched us and we never even knew they were there and the chaps stayed on 99.99% of the time. Velcro is one option and snaps are another. You prefer velcro we prefer snaps. I am sure Tom has figured out that there are a couple of options and he will chose the one he prefers.

[imagine2frolic]

No preference to velcro. I was just wondering about the snaps getting hot. I thought they might be placed low as you described. No single one of us is as smart as all of us, and I still have tons of questions of why? Unfortunately I can't remember everything I take in........LOLOLOLOLOL

[dkall]

What about attaching some pad eyses to the floor and using bungee or line to keep it down.

Currently we have nothing and we too are looking at what to use. Since we have nothing the chaps are at times flying like a cape.

[SeaKing]

Hello Tom...Great looking chaps...good to see you on here,this is a great board.
My canvas maker (wife) has been talking about making chaps for our dingy when we had our PDQ...years later,still no chaps

Those chap's colors look like you are a Miami Dolphin fan. :>)

Chester

[sailPDQ36]

Chester,

Not really a football fan, but I have been planning on trying to pick up hot chicks down island by telling them that I am Dan Marino's dinghy driver. My wife doesn't think it's too funny.

Tom
Dream Catcher

[skipper.rose]

wow ...this is really good-looking and seems practical....how do you make it? with a pattern?

[sailPDQ36]

Thanks for the comments. I just sort of winged it, but having the dinghy sitting right next to the sewing machine made it a lot easier. I didn't make a pattern, but rather just cut the pieces out right on the dinghy. This was a lot faster than making a pattern, but I suspect I wasted a little more fabric than if I had.

Tom
Dream Catcher