Canvas protection?

[glonek5]

Starting to get excited about getting the boat cleaned up and in the water after a cold winter.

Looking at he canvas, which is in good shape. Does anyone apply anything to the bimini/dodger to lengthen its life span?

Bob

 

[Mulf]

Great article on canvas care

in the February 2013 Sail magazine.

http://www.sailmagazine.com/boatworks/keep-your-canvas-tip-top-condition

Edited to correct the year to 2013.

 

[Maine Sail]

Starting to get excited about getting the boat cleaned up and in water after a cold winter.
Looking at he canvas which is in good shape.
Does anyone apply anything to the bimini/ dodger to lengthen it's life span?
Bob

303 High Tech Fabric Guard NOT to be confused with 303 Aerospace Protectant...

 

[Stargazer3]

I agree with "Maine Sail" - although the product I use is the West Marine brand of the same thing. I store my Biminis during the winter and spray them when I install them at the beginning of the season - then maybe once half-way through the summer. Captain Bill on STARGAZER

 

[Ctskip]

303 is the only product I have ever used for my outdoor materials. Not only for my boat but also for my automobiles convertible tops. Applied once a year, the tops look like new ten years later. Don't get it on any paint or glass and be sure the material is clean and dry. Put it on in the shade. It works like crazy. You'll be impressed. Best under $50 you'll ever spend

 

[topman]

Canvas

As someone who has been making dodgers and Bimini,s for close to 30 years, the number one thing to do is keep them clean , if you don't the acrylic becomes clogged and no longer breathes. This amounts to mould in a wetter climate and just dirty older looking in a warmer climate . The 303 water proof treatment was the only product that Sunbrella ever endorsed to be used. It is not necessary to do this every year I tell my clients keep it clean and re waterproof when needed.in warmer climates it may help in preserving the fabric from sun fading .
If you want more info check out the Sunbrella website , www.sunbrella.com

Cheers
Laine
Peninsula Boat Tops
Sidney,B.C. Canada

 

[Maine Sail]

I agree with "Maine Sail" - although the product I use is the West Marine brand of the same thing. I store my Biminis during the winter and spray them when I install them at the beginning of the season - then maybe once half-way through the summer. Captain Bill on STARGAZER

Bill,

Please understand the WM brand is NOT the same stuff nor even close to the same, nor is the Starbrite branded product..

I have spoken directly with the manufacturer who makes this product for West Marine and even they admit 303 HTFG is a superior product. The WM product is made to a price point...

#1 The WM product is water based, not solvent based like 303 HTFG

#2 The WM product uses an entirely different chemical base for the water proofing aspect.

While it may work it is not the same product nor even in the same league as 303 HTFG.... I went looking for a less expensive option, did the research, spoke with the manufacturers (including Glen Raven the makers of Sunbrella), and am still using 303 HTFG because there really is no substitute.

 

[Eric M]

Do you have to spray on the 303 protectant? It seems to always be too windy when we are at the boat and the sun is out to spray the stuff without it going everywhere. I have brushed it on in the past but it doesn't seem to waterproof the canvas very well if you brush it on.

 

[Dunlookin]

Talking About Protection...

Maine Sail...

I am on the fifth day of following your directions about cleaning, compounding, polishing, and waxing my boat. Thanks to you I have spent over $ 500.00 in supplies (yes, I bought the Makita polisher you told us to buy), and 30 plus manhours following your exacting standards.

This weekend the marina welder could not find my boat from the descriptions provided by the marina staff. The staff remembered the boat they pulled out of the water...they just had not seen the boat I slaved over.

Late yesterday I finished installing the new graphics. The transom and the port side need to be polished (following your directions, of course). I am now the marina expert on restoring old boats (Hunter 33C). I take the credit, give them your name, and send them to this site.

My boat looks fantastic. I will repeat my efforts and do the starboard side this week. Your detailed advice, product guide, and simple instructions made the step-by-step process doable. The results are nothing short of amazing.

Thank you, so much, for making my boat the envy of the yard....

Now, what the &*^% do I do about the ugly deck?

 

[Bob Camarena]

When I had my dodger built, I opted for a one-piece, full cover that covers the top, the sides and front of the dodger, in lieu of the more traditional, snap-on window covers. This protects everything, including the top from our California summer sun. After ten or so years, the cover shows its age, but the dodger looks new when I take it off. Cost-wise, it was the same as snap-on covers would have cost. The extra canvas cost was offset by labor savings.

My canvas looks like everyone else's when the boat isn't being used, but when the sail and dodger covers are off, everything looks nice and pretty.

 

[topman]

You should not re waterproof while it is on the boat , remove and spray in a calm area and let dry for at least 24 hours before exposed o any moisture, or the product will get washed off. I have had clients brush it on, but it uses a lot more product as it soaks in faster. You can also try a small foam roller to apply it. If you have to do this well it is on the boat as there is no other option , then just make sure it is allowed to dry completely , before any moisture gets to it.
Cheers
Laine
Peninsula Boat Tops
Sidney B.C. Canada

 

[BusinessServices]

Best Canvas Sealer

Best canvas sealer is StarBrite and is not sold by West Marine. I purchased a used sailboat in 2011 with 4 year old canvas and during the first rain the dodger/awning made of canvas leaked badly and you could see the sun through it. The StarBrite sold by Defender sealed it all. I applied with a paint brush while it was raining. It held and no residue got on the deck from the rain. All canvas eventually leaks but can be easily coated so you do not have to replace adding years to the life. There is also some clear tape sold by SailboatOwners.com to fix the rips but only works if applied on the inside non-sun facing side and does eventually peal off. Beats replacing your canvas every 4 years.

 

[Tim R.]

I clean my Sunbrella with Woolite and after it dries, treat it with 303. You lose a lot by spraying so I use a small foam roller. The water beads and easily rolls off the Sunbrella.

 

[Rick D]

Cool idea on using a roller!

 

[Ken13559]

All this talk about how good the HTFG is got me excited.
Ok so when should I start using 303 HTFG on my brand new yet to be fitted Sunbrella Bimini?

 

[Tim R.]

All this talk about how good the HTFG is got me excited.
Ok so when should I start using 303 HTFG on my brand new yet to be fitted Sunbrella Bimini?

Generally when it stops beading water. Dirt could also cause it not to bead so it is a good idea to clean it occasionally. I use Woolite and a microfibre cloth and a soft toothbrush for stubbord area(read bird poo). Woolite is recommended by Sunbrella.

 

[Ken13559]

Tim, Woolite is soap for hand washing clothing?

 

[Maine Sail]

Tim, Woolite is soap for hand washing clothing?

It is a low-detergent soap. You can also use Ivory Snow (flakes) and Dreft and both seem to work equally as well.

I do our canvas once per year in our spa/hot tub just before I change the water in it. It soaks in 101 degree water for about three days. I let the chemicals level get to very a dilute amount of chlorine, and it has a neutral pH and I put the bubbles on. It is tied out at four corners so as not to "tumble" in the tub.

Over a few days it wets out & shakes all the dirt out of the fabric. It comes out really, really clean. I then soak it in Ivory Snow for a few days then rinse it on a clothes line and let air dry. I then apply 303 in two light coats. Even though our canvas is tan we've yet to get any bad stains likely due to the 303 HTFG..

If you have a hot tub be sure you are ready to change the water. You'd be amazed at the amount of pollution/dirt that gets trapped in the fibers....

Be careful with bleach if you have polyester thread, as most will. Our canvas was specifically made with WL Gore Tenara thread so no worries on the chlorine level....

 

[FastOlson]

Dodger Life Enhancement

When I had my dodger built, I opted for a one-piece, full cover that covers the top, the sides and front of the dodger, in lieu of the more traditional, snap-on window covers. This protects everything, including the top from our California summer sun. After ten or so years, the cover shows its age, but the dodger looks new when I take it off. Cost-wise, it was the same as snap-on covers would have cost. The extra canvas cost was offset by labor savings.

My canvas looks like everyone else's when the boat isn't being used, but when the sail and dodger covers are off, everything looks nice and pretty.

Bob's cover concept sounds a lot like ours. I copied another owner's similar solution when our new dodger was built in '95. We have a fitted "drop over" one piece cover for the whole dodger that does have a couple of zippers down the back for access during the winter season. Some folks refer to it as a dodger condom!

It really works well and the cost was a fraction of the cost of the dodger itself since there are no windows -- just some turn-button fastenings that mate up with their bases along the base seams of the dodger itself.

We are on track to get 20 years use out of it.

Loren

 

[Stu Jackson]

We had a full dodger cover for a few years. Doing a lot of singlehanded sailing, I found it a real PITA. Now I have to clean my dodger more often, but the window covers that snap on are a lot easier.