Sunbrella adequate for outside storage in PNW

[browntdb]

My new 2000 CD 22 came with a sunbrella cover. It is currently stored under cover in Oregon, but I plan on keeping it outside at my island home in Puget Sound from April through October and perhaps year round later. How well does the sunbrella cover protect a C-Dory with all the rain we get in this area?

Is there any other type of cover that would work better without clouding the coating? It just seems to me that eventually the Sunbrella fabric will be soaked clear through when it has rained for three weeks straight and not provide protection.

Thanks,

Terry

 

[Captains Cat]

I'd scrub the cover well, on the boat (it's easier) and retreat it with the waterproofer 313 by 3M I think. You'll need to do that at least every two years.

Charlie

 

[localboy]

I believe this is winter #3 w/ our cover (Sunbrella from Angola Canvas). It's green, boy is it green, but the boat is dry. The beading-up (repellency) of the material is long gone, but the cockpit etc is dry. It seems to handle the rain well enough, although if we get a snow, I make sure to broom the snow load off as much as possible. I will have to wash it somehow this summer and re-apply the water-proofing.

I know there is another material that Angola uses that is more water repellent, does not stretch etc and can even handle a small snow load, but it does not breathe. Marty told me about it when I was looking to purchase a cover.

Might be worth a call to Angola to see what they say. And the coating is 303 High Tech Fabric Guard. http://www.303products.com/fabric-guard/303r-fabric-guard-32oz.html You can buy is it bigger bottles.

 

[c-ness]

We have used the 303 repellant and cleaner (recommended by sunbrella) for some time and they work well.

 

[Sunbeam]

I think the "other material" Angola uses is Aqualon. They say it holds up better to snow load, etc. However, they also caution that it doesn't breathe, so a person might not want it in a very humid climate. That said, you can design in vents.

On the other hand, I spent many nights in an old-fashioned just-plain-old-canvas tent as a kid, and as long as you did not touch the walls, it didn't leak. I think it had something to do with surface tension (although there was no Google back then to look it up ). I wonder that's part of the way in which the regular Sunbrella or other acrylic "canvas" works

Here is a photo of C-Dory "Grace" from Montana with one of the Angola Aqualon covers:

 

[C-Dawg]

I have a cover made from the Aqualon and I'm happy with it. So it doesn't breathe like Sunbrella; it's not like the cover is hermetically sealed around the boat. That's like being worried you'll suffocate if you close the door to your cabin. Even if a little condensation is created between boat and cover, c'mon, it's a boat, it's meant to be wet.

I don't use the cover to keep the boat try, I use it to keep 99% of the fir needles around my house out of it, and to keep as much of the dirty air from depositing soot, dust, etc. on it. I chose the Aqualon simply because it was cheaper than Sunbrella and serves the same purpose.

 

[Sunbeam]

So it doesn't breathe like Sunbrella; it's not like the cover is hermetically sealed around the boat. That's like being worried you'll suffocate if you close the door to your cabin. Even if a little condensation is created between boat and cover, c'mon, it's a boat, it's meant to be wet.

Just to clarify, it's Angola not (just) me that was talking about how you might not want Aqualon in a humid climate. That said, I find that ventilation is a great thing, and helps to prevent mold and other undesirables that can come with moisture combined with non-moving air), so I do think it's important. In a warm climate, it becomes even more of an issue. But you can put vents in a cover, so the fabric itself doesn't necessarily have to be able to breath. Shrink wrap is an example.

 

[breausaw]

Yes, 5 winters in Alaska on the old 22 and it held up fine.

 

[breausaw]

Duplacate post

 

[hardee]

SleepyC came with a cover. In fact when we found her, she was sitting outside, covered, (burgundy Sunbrella), and had been there that way for 6-8 months, through the summer here in Sequim. When we first brought her home, she was stored here, outside for the first year. Next to a tree. Silly me, I thought the cover would keep the stuff out of the cockpit and splashwell. Well it needs that cover modification for sure to add the cockpit, splashwell and motor heads. It did a good job of keeping things dry and clean except for that. I kept the windows open, and forward hatch open. No problem with mold or moisture inside the cabin even without a dehumidifier in it for the first year.

After that year I found an indoor place. Still use the cover some of the time, but mostly indoors so can not speak to the water-proofness currently. Have not done the waterproofing treatment. The cover is at least 6 years old now.

I'd say it works pretty well.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon