343 Owner’s Manual
5-7
Interior/Exterior Care
CANVAS
The optional bow and/or cockpit tonneau covers,
bimini top or bimini enclosure on your Cobalt boat
are manufactured from top quality materials to
provide you with years of trouble-free service.
The following information is provided to help you
maintain the appearance and ease of operation.
Cobalt uses Sunbrella
®
, a woven fabric made of
100% solution dyed acrylic fiber. It is very colorfast
and will withstand long-term exposure to the sun
(ultra-violet) without excessive fading or
deterioration.
• Do not store canvas wet or in an unventilated,
moist area.
• Always roll the canvas instead of folding.
• Roll the top carefully around the bows and
cover with the storage boot provided.
• Your canvas is designed and intended for
short-term use only. Do not use it for storage.
• Do not tow your boat with the top in the upright
position.
Cleaning Canvas
Canvas should be cleaned regularly before
substances such as dirt and roof particles are
allowed to accumulate on and become embedded
in the fabric. The fabric can be cleaned without
being removed from the installation. Simply brush
off any debris, hose down and clean with a mild
solution of natural soap in lukewarm water (no
more than 100°F). Rinse thoroughly to remove
soap. DO NOT USE DETERGENTS. Allow to air
dry. Do not store canvas wet or in an unventilated,
moist area.
Special Cleaning Problems
For heavily soiled fabric, remove the top from the
frame. Soak the fabric for approximately 20 minutes
in a solution that has been mixed to the following
proportions:
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of non-chlorine bleach
• 1/4 cup of mild soap like Ivory Snow, Dreft™ or
Woolite™
• One gallon of lukewarm water (water should be
no more than 100°F [37.8°C])
Allow the fabric to soak until the non-chlorine
bleach has killed the mildew and the stains can be
brushed out with a soft scrub brush. Rinse the
fabric thoroughly in cold water to remove all of the
solution.
This may require rinsing several times. Incomplete
rinsing can also cause deterioration of sewing
threads and prohibit the fabric from being properly
retreated. Do not soak excessively since the
non-chlorine bleach can deteriorate the sewing
threads. Allow the fabric to air dry completely.
Sunbrella may also be dry cleaned. DO NOT
STEAM PRESS OR DRY IN AN ELECTRIC OR
GAS DRYER. Sunbrella is thermoplastic or heat
sensitive. Excessive heat can damage and shrink
the fabric.
These methods of cleaning may remove part of the
water and stain repellency that was applied to the
fabric during its manufacture. The fabric should
receive an application of an air curing treatment
such as “303 HIGH TECH FABRIC GUARD” after it
has been cleaned.
CAUTION
Avoid damage to the canvas. Under no
circumstance are these fabrics to be put
in hot water, run through the hot drying
cycle of an automatic dryer or steam
pressed at a dry cleaner. Fabric should
be line-dried.
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