Hi everyone, I was in Borders Books looking throught their sailing section, and I had read somewhere, I forget the book but it was about maintence and improvements on a sailboat, that Thomspsans Water Seal works wonders as a waterproofing agent on canvas. The book says to simply paint it on the canvas and let it soak into the fibers. I have never done this, but I think it would work. Probably be a lot less expensive than using mulitple cans of Scothguard and i think it would last longer as well. I was going to make some new interior cushion slip covers and try it with them. If it worked, I was going to make a new cockpit shade and try it there as well. Any help or stories from past experience would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Mike
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Mostly linseed oil
Thompson's is mostly linseed oil. It may darken with age and exposure to sunlight.
Thompson's is mostly linseed oil. It may darken with age and exposure to sunlight.
Awning maker's instructions.
When we had new Sunbrella-TM awnings made for our office building, the maker instructed us to spray them with Thompson's in a garden sprayer twice a year. Could be bunk, but we did it and saw no adverse effects. They lasted over five years until a hurricane took them out.
When we had new Sunbrella-TM awnings made for our office building, the maker instructed us to spray them with Thompson's in a garden sprayer twice a year. Could be bunk, but we did it and saw no adverse effects. They lasted over five years until a hurricane took them out.
I would warn you against this
I used Thompson Water Seal on a bimini and it darkened some of the sunbrella as well as st4reaking the fabric. I used a spray bottle to apply the water seal. I went to a local awning outlet and they recommended a product used for sunbrella and it worked very well. I've been told, and this is incomplete information, that West Marine sells in its catalog a prodcut with part of the title 303. You may want to look in thier catalog for this product. It has gotten good comments. If I remember I'll look tonight and try and find it. Good Luck
I used Thompson Water Seal on a bimini and it darkened some of the sunbrella as well as st4reaking the fabric. I used a spray bottle to apply the water seal. I went to a local awning outlet and they recommended a product used for sunbrella and it worked very well. I've been told, and this is incomplete information, that West Marine sells in its catalog a prodcut with part of the title 303. You may want to look in thier catalog for this product. It has gotten good comments. If I remember I'll look tonight and try and find it. Good Luck
Thanks so far!!
For those of you who has tried this and found it sucessful, did it give the canvas a change in feel at all, did it feel sticky or uncomfortable to sit on? If used in a seating application would it soak into clothing or once dry is it set into the fabric? I looked in the west marine cataloge and found a waterfroofing and fabric treatment. I says it won't change hte color or feel, but there is no 303 in its title... I wonder if this is it? Thanks Again, Mike
For those of you who has tried this and found it sucessful, did it give the canvas a change in feel at all, did it feel sticky or uncomfortable to sit on? If used in a seating application would it soak into clothing or once dry is it set into the fabric? I looked in the west marine cataloge and found a waterfroofing and fabric treatment. I says it won't change hte color or feel, but there is no 303 in its title... I wonder if this is it? Thanks Again, Mike
Just bought some...
of the 303 sealer and protectant for a friend. It is recommended by Sunbrella. I also used it last year on my sunbrella dodger and it worked great. It's also available at Boater's Works for $1 cheaper. Spray bottle. It was recommended by my canvasmaker, also.
of the 303 sealer and protectant for a friend. It is recommended by Sunbrella. I also used it last year on my sunbrella dodger and it worked great. It's also available at Boater's Works for $1 cheaper. Spray bottle. It was recommended by my canvasmaker, also.
Some resources for you Mike
Paul is correct about the 303. It is called 303 high tech fabric guard. Sunbrella is very specific about how to clean and protect their material. The 303 fabric guard is applied after a deep thorough cleaning. Complete instructions are given on their website http://www.sunbrella.com/usa/carecleaning_awningmarine.shtml The complete low-down on 303 high tech fabric guard can be found on their website. see link below Hope this helps Ward
Paul is correct about the 303. It is called 303 high tech fabric guard. Sunbrella is very specific about how to clean and protect their material. The 303 fabric guard is applied after a deep thorough cleaning. Complete instructions are given on their website http://www.sunbrella.com/usa/carecleaning_awningmarine.shtml The complete low-down on 303 high tech fabric guard can be found on their website. see link below Hope this helps Ward
Sunbrella Cleaning.
I revisited the Sunbrella site and it reminded me of an unanswered question from my last visit. Where do you get soap these days? Everything in the grocery store is a detergent it seems. Wahtever happened to Ivory soap flakes in the box?
I revisited the Sunbrella site and it reminded me of an unanswered question from my last visit. Where do you get soap these days? Everything in the grocery store is a detergent it seems. Wahtever happened to Ivory soap flakes in the box?
Thompson's Worked for Me, Too
Old (14 yr) dodger, off white. Yes, darkened. Yes, kept water out. Successful application of product. I had no problem with darkening since we're getting a new dodger (need to). Anyway, if the color was problem I would have carefully done the whole dodger, and detailed it completely. I actually paint-brushed it on! It kept the water out. Yes, there are other products out there. Stu
Old (14 yr) dodger, off white. Yes, darkened. Yes, kept water out. Successful application of product. I had no problem with darkening since we're getting a new dodger (need to). Anyway, if the color was problem I would have carefully done the whole dodger, and detailed it completely. I actually paint-brushed it on! It kept the water out. Yes, there are other products out there. Stu
Not everything is detergent.
Chris: There are several products on the market that are NOT detergents. Check out woolite, ivory and several of the other products that would be used for sweaters and other delicate type of clothing. You just need to shop at the girl store, not the guys store. Guys like Tide, not Ivory!<g>
Chris: There are several products on the market that are NOT detergents. Check out woolite, ivory and several of the other products that would be used for sweaters and other delicate type of clothing. You just need to shop at the girl store, not the guys store. Guys like Tide, not Ivory!<g>
I wouldn't
If you use Thompson's on your interior cushions you may get an oily residue on you clothes, not to mention the odor. I think that Thompson's might have been good for old-fashioned cotton canvas, but with Sunbrella, I wouldn't use it, I'd stick to the mfgrs recommendation.
If you use Thompson's on your interior cushions you may get an oily residue on you clothes, not to mention the odor. I think that Thompson's might have been good for old-fashioned cotton canvas, but with Sunbrella, I wouldn't use it, I'd stick to the mfgrs recommendation.
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