Very new to this...canvas question

[mountainmomma]

Hi everyone!
My name is Kristen and my dh Ed and I just bought a 1973 Starcraft Starmaster 6.  It's in really good shape as far as we can tell.  We did tear the canvas putting it up the first time.  (we were in a hurry and anxious to get it up!).  Anyway, what are our options for fixing?  
Thanks!  Looking forward to posting more on here!

[flyfisherman]

Hi Kristen ~ About how big of a tear ... and where?


And welcome to the board!



Fly

[wavery]

Pictures are always helpful.

My hunch is that you may have torn out a corner, on the bunk end. That's pretty common for newbies. It's best to just barely put the corners over the bunk-ends before you you raise your canvas support. Then go back and secure the canvas around the bunk-ends.

It's fairly easy to remove the canvas from the bunk-ends for sewing. On most PUs, it's just a matter of unzipping from the front and back panels, the unscrew a screw on either end of the "C" channel on the roof and pull the material out of the channel (your particular roof connection may vary).

If if it is merely a torn seam, it will just have to be sewn back together. If the material is torn, a patch may be in order. Because that is a "High stress" area (as you found out :p ), it's best to sew on the patch. If you don't have a machine that will handle it, you may want to take it to a canvas maker, awning shop or sail maker. They will be able to patch it easily and it shouldn't cost very much. It's probably a 15 minute job.

[mountainmomma]

You guessed right.  It is on a corner by the bunk end.  It is not exactly on the seam so we will probably need a patch.  I'm not sure there's a marina type place in our little town but probably is one about an hour away.  I'll have to check around.

Thanks!

[wavery]

You guessed right.  It is on a corner by the bunk end.  It is not exactly on the seam so we will probably need a patch.  I'm not sure there's a marina type place in our little town but probably is one about an hour away.  I'll have to check around.

Thanks!

If the tear is close to the seam, it may be necessary to open the seam. Sew the patch ons o that the patch wraps around the end of the torn material, then sew up the seam so that it captures the patch. That will make a much cleaner and stronger repair.

The other way to do it would be to sew the patch across the seam and around the corner. It will just be a little more obvious but just as strong.

[harleywolf]

Don

[flyfisherman]

On my Starcraft the canvas is attached to the bunk end and so when sliding out the bunks care has to be taken that the canvas is in the correct place before applying any tension to it in the set-up process.

The Starcraft instructions say to unzip about half way the four corners of the canvas (right where the bunk-end canvas attaches to the main cabin side canvas); that way when sliding the bunk ends out there's much less tension on the canvas. Following those instructions, after I've pulled the bunk ends out and set the underneath braces in place, I go inside and zip down the corners and then install the bunk end bows. Much easier on the canvas.


Fly

[munchkin]

Don't knowif it would be large enough, but someone here suggested that I use iron-on patches--they're wonderful! On the larger ones, my DD also sewed around the edges to ensure they'd hold. LOL.


Munchkin

[ScouterMom]

Cool!  Someone else with my camper?  does yours look like this?



(to see the rest of my photos, click on the picture and it should take you to the albums)
since that photo, I replaced the tanks and hoses, the stove works, and we've started building a canoe / bike rack for it. we've fixed a bunch of minor things, and will be putting in new flooring this fall.

I bought mine this past spring on E-bay - it needed work (LOTS of it!  :yikes: ) and it's still an ongoing project, but we've been camping in it between remodeling and repairs.  It's the 2nd old starcraft I've owned and I LOVE it. Starcraft made a great camper back then, you'll see MANY of these old 70's Starcrafts out there, they lasted well with a bit of care, or even when neglected like mine was. My canvas was in good shape - just dusty and a bit stained.  I actually took it ALL off and scrubbed it! The iron on patches aren't a bad idea - I used them on my other starcraft for two small tears, but for a stress point like a corner, they may not last as well.


 If there's anything I can help you with, let me know. I'd be happy to share anything I've learned.  I've done alot of surfing looking for info on these old PUPs &  It would be great to have someone to compare notes with!

Happy camping! I know you'll love your New-2-U Starcraft, too!

Laura

[mountainmomma]

Hi Laura!
How exciting to see another vintage camper like ours!  Looks the same down to the yellow countertops!
Our heater and stove work but the water pump and electric system don't.  Not sure if we are going to fix them or just deal!  

Here's a question for you.  Our camper came with a "screen room" or something.  Basically a huge heavy peice of canvas that is supposed to transform magically into something.  The guy we bought if from said they never attempted to put it up so he had no idea how to do it.  Does yours have one?  Do you have any picture you could share so we know what we are doing!?
Thanks and happy camping!
Kristen

[ScouterMom]

I have an awning for my Starmaster - I think It's actually from a larger one, though, as it is about a foot too long for the camper top.  Still, we used it for shade during our last campout.  It's canvas matches the canvas of the camper itself, only in much better, almost new condition.  It has heavy zippers along the outside edges for screens - but there were no screens with it.

I intend to cut it down a bit and use the screens from an old screen house I had to make a screen room.

Do you have any poles with yours?  not that it matters, you can get replacement poles at Target or any camping store if you don't.

In the 70's, most tenting used telescoping aluminum poles and guy lines (ropes) to stake them out with. The awnings and screen rooms are simply 1/2 of a tent - with one side attached to your camper.

here's how most of them work -

there should be an Aluminum channel on the top edge of your camper, all along the top of the roof, over the door. the roof of your screen room attaches there.   Your canvas part of your screen house is the 'roof' - and one long side should have a "piping" hem - like the rolled trim on your couch or a pillow, with a heavy cord or rope inside it. (if the cord is not in it,  you can replace it with a regular rope, a little smaller in diameter than the aluminum channel)  If the  screen is attached with zippers or velcro, separate them before attempting to attach the screen room to the camper.  it will be easier to handle until you are used to putting it up - once the roof part is up, you can attach the screens.

Before you raise your roof (while it's low and easy to reach)you slide the rope edge into the channel and pull it all along the length of the camper - carefully! because the edge could tear the canvas - it needs to be supported as you slide it in.  once it's in all the way across, then let it hang loose until you raise the roof to it's proper height.

Once the camper roof is up, hold the outside edge of the canvas out and put a pole thru the eyelet in each corner. put a rope over the top of the tent pole, and stake the rope out at an angle to hold the pole up.  I prefer to use two guy ropes per corner, they tend to flap less and stay put in wind better.  If you have 1 or 2 other eyelets in between the poles, put a tent pole in each and stake it out with a rope.

Finish setting up your camper.

re-attach the screens by zipping them onto the roof canvas.  You now have a shady, bug free entrance to your home on wheels!

Some screen rooms come with sections that attach to the body of the camper under the edge and over the tires, to keep bugs from coming in from under the PUP.  I've never seen any up close.  they could attach by magnets to the frame, some kind of hooks, or velcro (which was around then, but not real common).  

I don't have a photo of ours up - just some shots of the family with parts of the awning in it.  It's been raining here about forever - ( I'm SO sick of rain!) - if I get it up again, I'll take some close photosfor you. But I do have some photos I got off the internet of a homemade screen room I was thinking of copying.   I put them in my album if you want to check them out.



Click on the photo to go to the albums....


By the way, what part of the country are you from?  I'm in Northern IL -near the WI border, East of Rockford, IL.

laura