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Added 02/17/04
I cleaned my Bimini top with OxyClean which did a great
job of getting itclean. I
waterproofed it with Scotch Guard but it didn't work.
Any
suggestions as to a good waterproof. It
is Sunbrella.
Thompson's Water Seal worked for us.
Bob,
Down
here in Guatemala we use a product called 5 X 1. It is a vinyl-acrylic sealer
for concrete – yes CONCRETE! It comes from the paint store as a thick paste in
a gallon can and here costs only about
$10.00.
Mix it, as the name suggests, 5 parts water to 1 part paste (so you get 6
gallons for your $10.00!!), then "paint" it on the Sunbrella or other
canvas with a big brush. Any drips can be washed off with water before they dry,
after they dry you can use acetone. It goes on looking whitish but dries
perfectly clear. We have been using the product for over 2 years now and find
that it works great, each application lasting about 8 months in the intense
tropical sun. The only disadvantage we know of is that it makes canvas items
somewhat stiff. For the dodger, bimini, and awnings this is not a problem at
all, but we do not like it on items such as the binnacle or winch covers. For
those we use Scothcgard.
As
an added note, we have also discovered this mixture is the same stuff as Captain
?? Creeping Crack Cure which sells in West Marine for $11.00 for about 2 ounces.
For fixing leaks, we mixe the 5 X 1 with 3
parts
water to 1 part paste, add a bit of alcohol so it will dry faster, and use a
syringe to squirt the stuff into places that may be the source of leaks. It then
runs down until the crack is filled, dries hard, and voila!! no more leaks. We
have put it on the coaming so that it ran into screw holes that were the source
of leaks that had been driving us crazy for years. Also around our pilothouse
windows, along the rub rail to reach more faluty screw holes -- and now we have
a perfectly dry boat. We call it "Captain Carl's Leak Likker" and have
thought about selling it in 6 oz bottles for $5.00 -- but it's more fun to give
the idea away!
most
boating stores sell something called 303 Water proofer.
works fairly well. make sure you get the 303 Water proofer not protectot, I
think they're both called 303 has to be redone once a year though
Warning,
Thompson's water seal may work on fabric but to not get it on fiberglass
finishes. It is very hard to remove
and spots.
I
thought I had saved the formula, but can't find it. Thompson's is nothing more
than paraffin wax dissolved in a petroleum solvent.
The
point was that you're coating your canvas with paraffin wax if you're using
Thompson's.
I
read that the sealer contained Petroleum distillates and according to the site
that means.....
Solvent
naphtha (petroleum), medium aliphatic; Stoddard solvent (2); Solvent naphtha,
medium aliphatic; Petroleum distillate (3); Solvent naphtha, petroleum, medium
aliph.
I
am no chemist but I don't read paraffin wax?
Ingredients
from MSDS/Label
Chemical
CAS
No / Unique ID
Percent
Paraffin
(Synthetic wax)
008002-74-2
2.9
Petroleum
distillate
064742-88-7
7-8
Looks
like wax to me.....
Friends:This is information from sunbrella.
Re-treating the fabric
As part of the finishing process, Sunbrella fabrics are treated with a
fluorocarbon finish, which enhances water repellency. This finish is
designed to last for several years, but must be replenished after a thorough
cleaning. Based on test results, Glen Raven recommends 303 High Tech Fabric
GuardT as the preferred re-treatment product for Sunbrella fabrics. Fabrics
should be retreated after thorough cleaning or after five years of use.
Check with your local Sunbrella dealer or distributor for more information.
Applying 303 High Tech Fabric GuardT
303 should be applied to Sunbrella fabrics after each thorough cleaning, which
typically removes the original fluorocarbon finish and reduces the fabric's
water resistance. After cleaning the fabric, allow it to air dry completely and
then apply 303 in a thin, even coat. After allowing the first coat of 303 to air
dry, apply a second thin, even coating of 303. Two light coatings are more
effective in restoring fabric water resistance than a single heavy coating. The
15-ounce aerosol provides coverage of up to 50
square feet of lightweight fabric.
Please let us know if you need anything else!
Sincerely,
Sunbrella Customer Service
Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, LLC