Washing Boat Canvas

[fred miller]

Now that sailing season is pretty much done here on the Jersey Coast anyway, I'm stripping down the boat of all the canvas, bimini, dodger awning etc. and readying them for winter storage. The question is has anyone had experience washing Sunbrella type fabrics either in a washing machine or by hand to get off the seasonal grime and dirt. If so, how do you go about it and what type of detergent do you use. is using a brush OK or will it damge the fabric? Someone mentioned using Woolite and cold water. Anyone have any suggestions or is this generally just a bad idea.Fred M.M/ Squared

 

[Ed Schenck]

My handy fence.

The fence around my back yard is perfect for this. I hang all the canvas over the fence on a warm, sunny day(yes we get two or three in Ohio). Then I hose them down, let them dry, turn over and do it again. In the Spring I return them to the fence for a light spraying of fabric sealant.

 

[Jim Rushing]

Every Winter

I pull the bimini off and bring it home to wash. Spread it on the concrete pad in front of my hanger and go at it with the pressure washer and boat soap. After both sides are washed, I put it over some saw horses to dry. After the icing season is over (around the first of March) put it back on the boat and spray it with 303 Fabric Guard on both sides. Bimini is now 8 years old and had to replace the stiching last year.

 

[Steve Dion]

Washing machine is fine!

Fred:If you go to the sunbrella site there are instructions for washing the fabric. They recommend a non-detergent soap (woolite, ivory flakes etc). Then you can air dry the fabric and recoat it with the 303 protectant.It is also a good time to have any seams repaired too.