So there may be a good Bonanza shell nearby for sale, which NEVER happens, thinking about grabbing it. The canvas, however, has seen better days. Is there anyone that still makes replacements for these? Or has anyone ever had a custom canvas stitched for a Chinook or the like?
No idea if anyone still makes a replacement canvas for the Bonanza, but an auto upholstery shop, boat shop that specializes in boat tops, or outfits that make replacement tops for popup tent trailers should be able to help you out, some can even heat weld the windows into them.
When I redone the top on my Chinook I removed the old top, cut it apart at the seams and used it as a pattern to mark out the new material. then had a local upholstery shop sew the new material back together the same as the old one.
The original was nothing more than a heavy truck tarp material, I used a automotive convertible top material, more like a actual canvas than the plastic coated material originally used, it stays soft and flexible in cold weather compared to the harder tarp material.
The top construction was actually fairly easy, the real work was putting it back in, lots of pulling, aligning, stapling, riveting, it'll definately enhance your vocabulary before your done, but it can be done. Good luck.
