Waterproofing Sunbrella

[captain465]

Has anyone used the "Thompsons Deck Sealer" as a wterproofing for sunbrella?? I seem to recall discussion on this, but cannot find an references.
My dodger and bimini are getting older and do not seem to stand up to rainfalls. I have used the 3M product for this in the past, but that spray on seems not to do the job.

[Vasco]

With old Sunbrella I have used World famous tent waterproofing in the past with good results.
World Famous® UVX2 Canvas Waterproofing

[PamlicoTraveler]

I have heard that Thompsons works and am curious too.

For me the 3M stuff is ridiculously epensive. And it will last for a while, but then you need to do it again. Thompsons would be a lot cheaper.

[marc2012]

I toonam waiting on thism,have some thompsons left oer from deck(house).marc

[GordMay]

The use of silicone water repellents is specifically recommended AGAINST by Glen Raven Mills and can void the multi-year factory warranty.

The product Glen Raven Mills recommends for treating Sunbrella® is 303 High Tech Fabric Guard.

303 High-Tech Fabric Guard ➥ 303 Products

See also ➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...elp-29407.html

And ➥ http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/22.htm

[Steve Pope]

I have a sunbrella dodger (blue) it is showing signs of mould contamination after a wet winter down here. I wish to clean it (kill the mould) and re-waterproof it, does anyone have a cleaning formula that wont bleach out the blue or damage the material?

[serah]

We just sprayed down our dodger with the 303 waterproofing spray. We took the dodger off and washed it in the tub at the house as it was starting to grow a lovely lawn of green algae. After it was dry, I sprayed it with two coats of the waterproofer. The 16 oz. bottle was enough for the dodger on our 32', plus some left over; friends did most of the canvas on their 31' sunbridge powerboat with a 32 oz. bottle. Worked like a charm; nice dry space under at the companionway now, and the water beads beautifully and rolls right off. It doesn't seem to be penetrating the fabric at all, even through some pretty heavy PNW rain storms. I don't know about the longevity, but for 18$ or whatever the bottle cost, well worth it once a year, IMO.

[Steve Pope]

Thanks Serah, that is the info I wanted, did you just use soap and water or something stronger?

[serah]

I think Brodie just used our laundry soap, which didn't affect the colour at all. Ours just had a green tinge to it, but it wasn't mold or mildew. Seemed to work just fine, but the sunbrella we were working with is black.

[speciald@ocens.]

The 303 stuff is very expensive and doesn't work any better than the cheaper Starbrite stuff.

[gonesail]

303 spray .. not cheap but lasts a while. spray on a nice calm morning with no wind.

[cburger]

Scotch Guard

[captain465]

To all that have been following this thread..........I contacted Thompson's regarding the use of the deck sealer on acrylic fabrics. The reply was that yhey do make a fabric sealer (available in spray application only) but it is silicone based. The older formulation of the deck sealer was good for canvas, but, due to formula changes, is no longer recomended for this use. The newer formula might result in stiffining or stickiness of the fabric.
Looks like 3M or Starbright fabric treatments might be the only $$$olutions.

[zeehag]

i used thompsons water seal in a spray can--lasted well for 3 yrs. i will buy 4 cans this time and do it again. have fun folks-- i go to home depot and come back drip free.
smooth sailing!!!~~~~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~~~~~~

[hellosailor]

No, but I've gotten Thompson's Deck Sealer on my pants while sealing a deck. Made them DAMN STIFF and I wouldn't use it on Sunbrella unless I wanted to convert that into a hard dodger.