450: Fasteners for cockpit covers

[Millerslocal]

Thanks to everyone for their useful input, much appreciated.

Didn't realise that the male parts were easy to remove so reduces the hassle of finding an exact match as whole unit can be replaced. Good advice on avoiding the generics and going for the name brands.

Am off to a local canvas maker now to see what he has in stock. I just hope the tools aren't too pricey!

[Millerslocal]

Sourced some stainless steel fasteners - unfortunately couldn't find in 316 so had to take 304 so will see how they hold up.

Hopefully we will find someone that can assist with punching them into the fabric as the correct tools to do this were very expensive. There are apparently cheaper tools but were told by the chap at the shop these do you not work as well, and don't correctly bend the flange and really seal the two buttons perfectly. Hope to find an upholstery shop in Maldives that can assist.

Also bought a YKK product called a poly stud. Apparently sometimes when you remove the screw which holds the male stud to the deck it can end up pulling out fibreglass with it meaning the remaining hole is too big to reuse without having to repair with fibreglass. If you don;t want the schlep of the fibreglass repair one can stick the poly stud on and the female fastener will clip onto this instead.

Was a sample in the shop and the connection between the female stud in the material and the mounted male poly stud was very strong. The poly stud comes in both male and female. Apparently using the female version on the deck and male in the material gives the strongest hold.