Velcro type buttons

[Dave39]

My round velcro buttons that hold the companionway doors together are shot. Does anyone know where to obtain replacements, or has anybody come up with a workable substitute? Thanks.

[johnmurray]

I purchased some generic white velcro at Home Depot, cut into a neat circle and stuck it on. It seems to work fine

[Dave39]

Thank you for your prompt reply. A good fallback if I can't locate the original.

[joe.baar]

Can you clean the old Velcro somehow, either with some kind of solvent or mechanically so it'll stick together again, or is it actually broken?

[Russell]

I think the best solution is from Ken on Pitou. Tie a loop of heavy string to hold the doors together and slip it on and off over the top.

[Yearwood]

Never found the Velco to be very good when bouncing around. We use a small bungee cord to hold the sections together.

[jcollins]

Never found the Velco to be very good when bouncing around. We use a small bungee cord to hold the sections together.

Same here. Doesn't detract from the aesthetics. No one notices but me.

[jointventure]

A few years ago I contacted 3M customer service and they sent me replacement buttons (male & female) - worth a phone call.

[Pitou]

I think the best solution is from Ken on Pitou. Tie a loop of heavy string to hold the doors together and slip it on and off over the top.

I reached for a bungee cord on delivery day and that same bungee is used to this day.

I have just discovered at the local True Value hardware store a 3M fastener / "Scotch Dual Lock Reclosable Fasteners" which I believe is the product John on the Joint Venture is referring to. Sturdy stuff and comes in black or clear. At my local store they only stock 1 X 3 rectangular strips which can be cut. It looks like the same product the original round buttons were made of. This is strong stuff.

Russell, I just may replace that bungee after all those seasons of fine service!

[jointventure]

I did some further research and found my old info from 3M. The part nos. are - SJ3465 ( 9/16 dia. circles ) and SJ3463 ( 13/16 dia. circles )

[Dave39]

Thanks John. I just came back from my local True Value with a package in hand. Will mount this weekend. Thanks to all for their help. See some of you at the New England get together.

[Denis]

I replaced the velcro with a male and female stainless steel snap, it works just fine.

[RustyTank]

3M item SJ3463 that JointVenture mentions above are available here:

http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/440908 ... -3463.html

[Pasteur]

The velcro works when the boat is in calm seas - i.e. a marina. But as soon as things start to move around the velcro lets go and the left panel starts to swing. For the first 2 seasons I used a small plastic clamp to hold the sections together. But I'd like to make a change; my solution is functional but not that attractive.

When the 2 sections fold together the hoop for the lock on the left panel fits into a recess on the right one. On Aquene that recess doesn't seem to be deep enough and there is always pressure on the velcro from the hoop getting pressed in there. I've considered cutting the recess a bit deeper but it's already pretty thin.

Has anyone else seen this?

[carolmarie]

Sorry for the late response but I wanted to go out to the boat for a picture. Attached is a photo of a "high end" closure made out of 316L that I installed some time ago that works very well and looks good too. There are adjustment screws that vary the tension on the two balls to provide more or less grip depending on your preference.
Regards,
carolmarie, 2001, 28TE, 6LP-STE.