1. Extension of lifespan. Dirt, algae and moss can accumulate on the surface and lead to discoloration and deterioration of the tent canvas. This contamination is removed by having your convertible top cleaned regularly. With an impregnation treatment we apply a protective layer to the cloth, so that new contamination has less chance.

2. Protection against water, moisture and UV radiation. By having your convertible top impregnated, it is protected against external influences such as water, moisture and UV radiation. This helps to strengthen the material of your boat tent and extend its lifespan.

3. Reduction of discoloration. Regular cleaning of your convertible top can help prevent discoloration, so your boat always looks neat.

4. Easier to keep clean. By impregnating the convertible top, dirt is less likely to be attracted and the top is easier to keep clean.

5. Improvement of hygiene. By regularly cleaning the convertible top, life on board becomes more hygienic. This is especially important when living on the boat often (with food or drinks).

You can bring your convertible top to us during our opening hours and we will ensure that the top can be picked up fresh and clean after a few weeks.

If a repair is needed, we can repair it in our own sail making workshop

Step 1: Pre-cleaning

We rinse your convertible top in our car wash under reduced pressure to remove all surface dirt.

Step 2: Soak

We then place your convertible top in a soaking bath for 10 to 15 hours with a cleaning agent specially developed by ZONklare. The temperature in the bath is a maximum of 20°C, making the soaking process 100% shrink-free.

Step 3: Rinse

We then spray your convertible top again under reduced pressure. With this action we remove all loosened dirt.

Step 4: Special soap treatment

After the soaking process, all normal dirt has been removed. Only stubborn dirt residues such as rust deposits, petrol or oil stains and mold require extra attention. We remove this last contamination with a special atomization process in which we brush your convertible top with special soap products.

Step 5: Rinse

The convertible top is now completely clean, we briefly immerse it in a bath with a special agent that neutralizes all previously used agents. We will now hang your hood out to dry.

Step 6: Impregnation and drying

After your convertible top has dried properly, it goes to the coating location via a smart transport system. Here we impregnate your hood with a special hydrophobic coating. We have had this coating developed to enhance water-repellent properties without harming the environment. The aim is to limit the moisture content in the cloth as much as possible and to prevent or limit mold growth as much as possible. This dirt- and water-repellent coating provides optimal protection against, among other things: algae, green deposits, (rain) water, fungi, weather stains, UV radiation (more colorfast), atmospheric dirt, salt water and spider droppings. The coating protects the cloth and extends its lifespan. Of course, your hood is 100% waterproof again after impregnation.

Step 7: Polishing and an optional check-up

When your convertible top is dry, we polish any plastic windows by hand. Our Window Spray contains protection for the plasticizers in the window film. Even the finest scratches disappear after polishing. After polishing we assess the cleaning result. If repair is not necessary or desired, we proceed to step 8. If a repair is desired, this can be done in our own sail maker.

Step 8: Packaging and Returns

We pack your convertible top and prepare it for shipment. After arriving at Bateau Bootservice you will receive an email and you can pick up your convertible top during opening hours .

There is no fixed answer to this, because there are many variables that influence this. For example, consider the following questions. How intensively is the hood used? What is the environment of the hood? Is there a lot of sailing on salt water? On average, the coating lasts optimally for three years. After that, the protection will gradually decrease. Another fun fact about our coating: a color filter has been incorporated into the protective layer. This means the cloth remains colourfast for even longer.

There is nothing more annoying than receiving a fresh, clean convertible top that no longer fits. We got to the bottom of this a few years ago.

I submitted the question to a testing laboratory. This party focuses specifically on textiles and can carry out all possible tests. I have given an exact description of our process, including a list of products we use for the various contaminations.

We had our washing process tested

A whole range of textile types was tested, and the outcome was always the same. The dimensions were exactly the same in all cases after the treatment. It is therefore indeed excluded that the washing process can be the cause of shrinkage in boat covers.

The report came after a few weeks

A whole range of textile types was tested, and the outcome was always the same. The dimensions were exactly the same in all cases after the treatment. It is therefore indeed excluded that the washing process can be the cause of shrinkage in boat covers.

But what is the cause of the shrinkage?

What about the observations of the people who called me? It turned out that their tent had shrunk. What could be the cause of this? I presented the issue to at least five sail makers, consulted fabric suppliers and finally checked for myself whether the window film could possibly have an influence on this.

The window film turned out to be the right track

The PVC window film used for the windows can sometimes cause (slight) shrinkage. As long as the convertible top is tensioned tightly on a ship, this is not a problem. But when the cover is removed and the tension disappears, the window film can 'move freely' and shrinkage is allowed to occur. Usually the hood can be put back on with some wringing and pulling, but in some cases some adjustments are necessary.

How do I get my convertible top to fit again?

What can you do if your convertible top no longer seems to fit? If that is no longer possible, a sailmaker can move the tenaxes slightly or make other corrections if necessary. If you want to try to get the convertible top to fit again, I have two tips.

Tip 1:

Try to pull the convertible top as far as possible and secure it with the straps or tension straps. It may be that after a few sunny days some stretching has occurred and the tenaxes fit again.

Tip 2:

Soak the convertible top with water, and place it wet on the boat. Wet material is sometimes easier to get moving. Once the hood is secured, the tension is reduced and the tube tent fits properly again.

The good news is that nowadays people are increasingly using specially treated window film, which shrinks much less. We therefore expect that the problem of shrinking window film will eventually be a thing of the past.

Anti-shrink guarantee

We have now created an anti-shrinkage guarantee. We guarantee you a fresh and clean convertible top with the same dimensions as before the wash!

With our handy price list you can see exactly what it costs, which is great!