When installing a side curtain; start each zipper first. Only zip it an inch or two.
Then snap each of your snaps. After all the snaps are done, finish by closing all the zippers. This should give you the slack you need to fully install the side curtain.
If one side closes easy (i.e. Starboard) but the other wont snap (port). Check that the top is centered on the frame and has not slid to one side.
As a boat enclosure ages it shrinks. Especially if it isn't left snapped on year round. Once they shrink, the only way you will get them on is with heat, put them up at home or put a heater on the inside and let them loosen up.
You can risk cracking clear vinyl if it's to cold and you force it to straighten out.
However, towing with boat canvas up can really cause damage to the clears and even the bimini. I always recommend bimini's be stowed for travel.
You might consider trying EZ-Xtend Boat zippers to add some slack if it's shrunken a 1/2" or more.
You also might think about a 12V heater you can crank up on the boat after you zip in the enclosure. You might generate enough heat to loosen them up and get them snapped.
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