Sailcovers

[zengirl]

Hi, hope all are safe. I'm having new sail covers made with marine sunbrella. Do you, have you sprayed any product on them to prolong life? Is it necessary? If so what product did you use and are you pleased with it? Thanks guys and girls!


'

[Calif.Ted]

I use 303 Protectant every couple of years when the water resistance needs renewing. Never used it on new, don't think it will absorb until some of the original waterproofing has worn/burned off.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/303-Fabri...fl-oz/45626485

[sailormed]

Wait till it leaks before you re-impregnate. I applied a product that is sold in stores like Home Depot that is intended to render porous roofs watertight. A lot cheaper then the spray cans and applied by brush.

[steve77]

Can they make the covers from Sunbrella plus? It would be more waterproof.

Steve

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by steve77

Can they make the covers from Sunbrella plus? It would be more waterproof.



Steve

It’s possible, but then your wet sails would never dry inside the polyurethane bag.

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by zengirl

Hi, hope all are safe. I'm having new sail covers made with marine sunbrella. Do you, have you sprayed any product on them to prolong life? Is it necessary? If so what product did you use and are you pleased with it? Thanks guys and girls!


'

Sunbrella lasts a long time. The first thing to fail is the stitches, unless they are made with PTFE thread, like Tenara. If you're concerned about water repellency, after a few years you might spray it with 303 FabricGuard. I found Sunbrella is pretty water repellent to start with.

[psk125]

Our sail covers were originally made from Sunbrella. When we took them in for a touch-up the sailmaker added another layer of fabric inside for added UV protection. Pretty cheap & effective. Doesn’t show. No flaking paint in any case, and it won’t wear off without being noticed.

[sailah]

I made a Sailrite sail cover 2 years ago from Sunbrella. It's not very abrasion resistant and chafed through where the winches on the mast are. I need to sew in some reinforcements.