[macojoe]

If it was me, I would put the top under some teak or frame, this would stop water from the top.
No snaps for me, they just get craped up from the salt, then hard to undo and then you going to rip and replace later.
I would use Velcro for the bottom and sides, peel off and on like nothing! And when closed looks neat and clean!

as for water, what reel is getting on about is I took a 10 foot wave and got swamped!! The less places for water to get in the better! But when you take water to the gunnals it really don't matter any way!