How to Make a Webbing Strap That Loops Around a Tubing Frame

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Webbing straps are used to help tension dodger and bimini frames. A well-made webbing strap allows you to tension boat tops and covers with a single pull. What's great about the versatility of webbing straps is the ability to adjust the tension easily, unlike with rigid support struts made from tubing.
Materials List:
  • Webbing Strap Kit for Bimini/Dodger
  • Heavy Duty Nylon Webbing
  • Snap Hook
  • Webbing Slider
  • Loop Loc
  • Outdoor Thread
Tools List:
  • Cutting Tool
  • Hotknife (optional)
  • Sewing Machine

Webbing straps are lighter than rigid struts, saving weight on your boat. They are also much more affordable, making adjustable webbing straps a cost-effective solution for tensioning your bimini or dodger top. In today's blog, we're going to show you how to make your own webbing strap that loops around a tubing frame on your boat.

How to Install a Webbing Strap

In this short video tutorial, we demonstrate how to sew your own adjustable webbing strap and how to loop it around your boat frame for installation. To prevent the strap from sliding along the boat frame or rail, it’s essential to install it at a 90-degree angle to the rail. This ensures the webbing strap stays secure where the bimini or dodger frame runs parallel or almost parallel to the rail at the strap's attachment point.

Attachment Methods

There are two main ways to attach webbing straps to a boat top frame:

  • Webbing Loop:
  • Snap Hook: that locks to an attachment point on the railing

Materials Needed

To make your own webbing straps, gather the following materials:

  • 1" nylon webbing
  • 1" webbing slider
  • Loop Loc
  • Snap hook
  • Hotknife
  • UV-resistant thread
  • Heavy-duty sewing machine (e.g., Sailrite® Ultrafeed® Sewing Machine)

Watch the video to see how to sew a webbing strap for your boat's bimini or dodger frame.