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Author Topic:   waterproofing a boat /mooring cover

dswain posted 05-18-2002 11:51 AM ET (US)
What is the best product to use on a boat cover to help with waterproofing it? I don't know if it's necessary or not but I thought it might be a good idea for the long term care of the cover.The cover I have came with my Montauk,it's not a Mills but looks like the one from Overton's and is certanly a few years old but in pretty good shape.Just trying to preserve it. Thanks for the help.
Draftmanswife posted 05-18-2002 12:46 PM ET (US)
If your material is Sunbrella, you don't want to put anything on it, it is made with waterproofers already in it. If you have another type of canvas, or dson't know what material it is, give Mills a call, and they will help you. Regards,
Janis
dswain posted 05-18-2002 04:33 PM ET (US)
If the cover is from Overton's as I suspect,they say there's is made from Sundura. Is there a big difference between Sunbrella and Sundura ? If it is Sundura how and with what should I treat it? Thanks.
lhg posted 05-18-2002 05:34 PM ET (US)
Contrary to what Janis said, I waterproof my Mills Sunbrella canvas items, including the mooring cover, when needed. I did this after contacting Mills for a recommendation. They told me to use a silicone spray-on waterproofing, such as by Starbrite. I buy it by the gallon, and pour it into a spray bottle. It has made my Mills items completely waterproof, but does wear off after prolonged exposure to rain.
As mentioned, initially the Mills sunbrella items are waterproofed, but after a few years, they will need to be re-treated.
Barry posted 05-19-2002 02:59 PM ET (US)
You might try 303 Products "303 High Tech Fabric Guard". It is a fluoropolymer spray that repels water like silicone, but unlike silicone supposedly also repels dirt, grease, and oil. They claim it works on most fabrics and is recommended by and for Sunbrella.
www.303products.com
Speaking of water repellency, I just tried some ReviveX. This stuff is from the inventors of GORE-TEX. To use it you wash the garment in warm water, spray will it is still wet, and then tumble dry (it says NOT to air dry). I had a GORE-TEX coat that was several years old and while it still kept me dry didn't "shed" water anymore. I treated it with this stuff and the coat sheds water like new. A 5oz bottle cost me about $10 at Bass-Pro and supposedly treats two garments. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts.
I suppose you could treat a boat cover with ReviveX if you could find a big enough dryer ;-)
Good luck,
Barry
compounder posted 05-19-2002 05:48 PM ET (US)
Once yearly, I scrub my Sunbrella bimini with a soft brush and car wash soap. Rinse thoroughly, let dry, and apply an aerosol product called Camp-Dry (available in camping section at Wal-Mart). The top is 11 years old and looks and feels new.
andygere posted 05-19-2002 06:46 PM ET (US)
I apply Starbrite Canvas Waterproofer using a small self-contained pesticide sprayer. I paid about $6 for it at my local garden center. It holds about 2 quarts of liquid, and has a simple plunger-style pump built in to pressurize it. Once pressurized, just squeeze the trigger for a continuous mist. It applys a fine, even mist that really extends the coverage of the product applied. It's also a lot easer than continuously squeezing a standard spray bottle.
LKS posted 05-19-2002 08:01 PM ET (US)
We've tried many products over the 15 years we've been boating. I wouldn't use anything other than Marikate's waterproofing product. Our canvas was leaking like a seive. One application of the Marikate product (sorry, I can't remember the exact name), and we were again watertight.
DJS posted 05-22-2002 05:58 PM ET (US)
LKS
Here's the url for marikate's products.
http://www.c-mesales.com/en-us/dept_66.html
David
whalernut posted 05-22-2002 07:47 PM ET (US)
David, I buy off of C-ME Marine sales all of the time, great service and prices!!! If I go to West Marine I carry their catalog with me and floor them with the matching game, C-ME beats West Marine almost always on prices!!! They are in Buffalo,NY. and that is close to me in PGH.PA. so i get stuff pretty fast!! Jack.

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Author	Topic: waterproofing a boat /mooring cover
dswain	posted 05-18-2002 11:51 AM ET (US) What is the best product to use on a boat cover to help with waterproofing it? I don't know if it's necessary or not but I thought it might be a good idea for the long term care of the cover.The cover I have came with my Montauk,it's not a Mills but looks like the one from Overton's and is certanly a few years old but in pretty good shape.Just trying to preserve it. Thanks for the help.
Draftmanswife	posted 05-18-2002 12:46 PM ET (US) If your material is Sunbrella, you don't want to put anything on it, it is made with waterproofers already in it. If you have another type of canvas, or dson't know what material it is, give Mills a call, and they will help you. Regards, Janis
dswain	posted 05-18-2002 04:33 PM ET (US) If the cover is from Overton's as I suspect,they say there's is made from Sundura. Is there a big difference between Sunbrella and Sundura ? If it is Sundura how and with what should I treat it? Thanks.
lhg	posted 05-18-2002 05:34 PM ET (US) Contrary to what Janis said, I waterproof my Mills Sunbrella canvas items, including the mooring cover, when needed. I did this after contacting Mills for a recommendation. They told me to use a silicone spray-on waterproofing, such as by Starbrite. I buy it by the gallon, and pour it into a spray bottle. It has made my Mills items completely waterproof, but does wear off after prolonged exposure to rain. As mentioned, initially the Mills sunbrella items are waterproofed, but after a few years, they will need to be re-treated.
Barry	posted 05-19-2002 02:59 PM ET (US) You might try 303 Products "303 High Tech Fabric Guard". It is a fluoropolymer spray that repels water like silicone, but unlike silicone supposedly also repels dirt, grease, and oil. They claim it works on most fabrics and is recommended by and for Sunbrella. www.303products.com Speaking of water repellency, I just tried some ReviveX. This stuff is from the inventors of GORE-TEX. To use it you wash the garment in warm water, spray will it is still wet, and then tumble dry (it says NOT to air dry). I had a GORE-TEX coat that was several years old and while it still kept me dry didn't "shed" water anymore. I treated it with this stuff and the coat sheds water like new. A 5oz bottle cost me about $10 at Bass-Pro and supposedly treats two garments. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts. I suppose you could treat a boat cover with ReviveX if you could find a big enough dryer ;-) Good luck, Barry
compounder	posted 05-19-2002 05:48 PM ET (US) Once yearly, I scrub my Sunbrella bimini with a soft brush and car wash soap. Rinse thoroughly, let dry, and apply an aerosol product called Camp-Dry (available in camping section at Wal-Mart). The top is 11 years old and looks and feels new.
andygere	posted 05-19-2002 06:46 PM ET (US) I apply Starbrite Canvas Waterproofer using a small self-contained pesticide sprayer. I paid about $6 for it at my local garden center. It holds about 2 quarts of liquid, and has a simple plunger-style pump built in to pressurize it. Once pressurized, just squeeze the trigger for a continuous mist. It applys a fine, even mist that really extends the coverage of the product applied. It's also a lot easer than continuously squeezing a standard spray bottle.
LKS	posted 05-19-2002 08:01 PM ET (US) We've tried many products over the 15 years we've been boating. I wouldn't use anything other than Marikate's waterproofing product. Our canvas was leaking like a seive. One application of the Marikate product (sorry, I can't remember the exact name), and we were again watertight.
DJS	posted 05-22-2002 05:58 PM ET (US) LKS Here's the url for marikate's products. http://www.c-mesales.com/en-us/dept_66.html David
whalernut	posted 05-22-2002 07:47 PM ET (US) David, I buy off of C-ME Marine sales all of the time, great service and prices!!! If I go to West Marine I carry their catalog with me and floor them with the matching game, C-ME beats West Marine almost always on prices!!! They are in Buffalo,NY. and that is close to me in PGH.PA. so i get stuff pretty fast!! Jack.