How to Make Snap Extenders for Boat Canvas

Do you have a boat cover, enclosure or large canvas cover whose snap fasteners no longer reach? This is a common issue with large outdoor covers. Luckily, Sailrite has a simple solution so you don't have to sew a new cover to replace the old one. What's the solution? Snap extenders! Read on to learn what these are and how simple they are to make. You'll give your boat cover a whole new life with this simple sewing hack.

Canvas covers can shrink, and the snaps will no longer come together easily. Snap extenders will fix this problem and extend the life of covers. And the best part is — they're easy to make. All you need to do is cut a piece of leather to size and install the snaps! 

You'll need a few basic sewing tools and supplies for this quick DIY hack. Snap extenders are usually made from chrome tanned sailmaker's leather, but you can use webbing as well if you prefer. If you choose to use webbing, we recommend a webbing with high UV resistance and low stretch. Polyester webbing is a great choice.

You'll also need a ruler, marking tool and cutting tool. If you use leather, you can cut the extender out with scissors since the material won't unravel. If you use webbing, we recommend cutting with a hotknife to seal the edges while you cut.

To punch a hole for the snap, we're using a 1/8" hole punch and mallet. You can use a razor blade or other cutting tool but we recommend the hole punch for the most effective, cleanest cut.

Once your holes are punched, all that's left to do is install your snap with a snap fastener installation tool. Watch the video below for the complete tutorial and see how easy it is to make snap extenders for your outdoor covers.

We hope you enjoyed this quick DIY tutorial. Click here to explore our other Tips & Tricks blogs. We have dozens of sewing tips and techniques to share with you.