The bottom sides of my top are torn were the thread is but the holes aren't ripped. My friend said he can redo the thread he just need s to know what kind And size thread it uses. Does any one know?

 

Mine is also ripped near the water holes. One small tear about 1-2 inches on each side where the top folds. I had an apholsterer (sp?) take a look at mine. It was ripped near the threads, but mine was about an inch above the thread. He said that stitching would ultimately fail and he recommended a patch, not stitching. Sounds like yours is on the stitching though. I was recommended something called poly web, it's a compound you heat up that makes a patch. I don't know if this helped you at all, but for what it's worth, it is my experience and I hope it added to the thread.

 

What described is the primary/most common stress point for the tops and thus most common point of failure. Comes from the top shrinking over time. So just stitching the hole back together without compensating for the stress at the point would indeed be doomed to short term failure. However, a patch approach could release the stress at that point. Just have yet to hear of a patch that proves durable.

Please give update when you make the patch repair, then would be good to check back in 3 month intervals as to how it's holding up.