I know this is going to sound stupid and obvious, but is there a chance your
have the canvas caught in the top? If you're having that much trouble
closing it, i think you'd have less control of the canvas and if you pinch
the canvas, it's going to leak there.
I just think you need to fully eliminate that possibility before assuming
it's something else, because getting that canvas perfectly out of the way
can be tricky.

-Craig
'85WESTY

On Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 8:52 PM, Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@gmail.com> wrote:

> Doug, do you have trouble closing the top with the struts?  I find I have
> to
> slam it down REALLY hard - and that's with the kayak and the racks adding
> 50
> or so pounds of extra weight.  It takes around four tries usually before I
> get it shut.  I can't imagine how I'll be able to close it without the
> kayak.  It's also fairly lopsided, I have to remember to only pull down on
> the side without the kayak, since the boat adds all the weight on the
> passenger side.
>
> On the other hand, I CAN open the poptop with the kayak up there now!
>
>
>
> Joy
>
>
> On Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 8:45 PM, Doug Alcock <doug.alcock@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Geez --- you're having a hard time with those struts. I've had no leaks
> in
> > mine since I put the struts in. If you physically examine the seal when
> it
> > is closed is there a gap? Maybe try spraying it with a hose when the top
> is
> > down. There is adjustment in the poptop latch --- maybe it needs to be
> > tightened.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Doug
> >
> >  On Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 2:57 PM, Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> My van has suddenly started leaking pretty seriously when it rains.  The
> >> water is coming in from the two front corners of the poptop, and it runs
> >> down the bunched-up poptop fabric inside and then into the van.  This
> >> seems
> >> to have started all of a sudden - not a gradual increasing link.  The
> >> seals
> >> don't seem to be bad - I have other leaky seals, but the ones at the
> front
> >> of the poptop look okay to me.
> >>
> >> I don't know exactly when it started, but it could have been when I put
> >> the
> >> struts on to assist on lifting the top with the kayak up there.  Has
> >> anyone
> >> else had this happen when they installed struts?  As if there is
> constant
> >> pressure lifting the poptop, creating a space for water to come in when
> it
> >> rains.  It's not particularly related to driving in the rain - happens
> if
> >> she's parked through the whole storm.
> >>
> >> Any thoughts?
> >>
> >>
> >> Joy
> >> and Matilda, who would rather be dry
> >>
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > http://www.dougalcock.com
> >
>
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