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Sunbrella: How good is it? Best Wax/sealant?

85Predictor

85Predictor

Member
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With Summer on its' way, I wanted to get some feedback on this product. I have been toying with the idea of making a cockpit cover with this stuff. Have seen some other Predictors with them. Would like to know if it really does keep the water out. Also, what is the best wax/sealant to use to keep the fading at bay? Or, is a full cover the best thing to use for long-term exposure to the sun?
Thanks!!
 
eyes.gif

With Summer on its' way, I wanted to get some feedback on this product. I have been toying with the idea of making a cockpit cover with this stuff. Have seen some other Predictors with them. Would like to know if it really does keep the water out. Also, what is the best wax/sealant to use to keep the fading at bay? Or, is a full cover the best thing to use for long-term exposure to the sun?
Thanks!!
 
I think sunbrella is great stuff, I made a cover out of it that covers the hole top and sides of my boat. One thing is you must seal it every couple of years to keep it waterproof, even when it is brand new it needs to be sealed. Sunbrella will also breath, so if your boat was put away a little wet inside it will dry with the cover on instead of mildewing. As for wax everyone seems to have different opinions, but I dont beleave anything but a cover will stop fading if in direct sunlight long term.
 
I highly recommend the Subrella for any covers. As for the wax , man a have 2 large cupboards full of diffrent products ,right now I have been using Meguires .
 
I also would highly recommend sunbrella, I still have the orginal cover for my 84'. Which is made out of sunbrella and its black. As far as it keeping the water out, yes.... it does. The sealent/wax that I use is 303 canvas sealer. Just spray it on and let it dry....then your done.It works good.I have also used camp dry on some, and that seems to work to.My 2 cents.
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Brian,
I found a product at Overton's called 303 Aerospace Protectant. It claims to be a "liquid sunscreen" for vinyl, fiberglass etc. Is this the product you use? What I would like to have is a cover for the cokpit area(snap-on), then find a product that would prevent damage to the Sunbrella and also prevent fading of the fiberglass. Maybe this stuff would work??

Is it SPF 30??
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Thanks for all of the input!
 
There's two protectants that they make one is for vinyl and the others for canvas, I use both and they work well, no signs of discolor yet. And yes SPF 30 sounds about right.
 
Brian,
Any experience protecting the fiberglass with a chemical vs a cover?? Maybe I wasn't clear on that. 303 does make a protectant for fiberglass.
I spent many hours getting rid of the haze so do not want it to return.

I can get Sunbrella at a local remnant store. Sure sounds like that is the way to go. Any suggestions on where to get fasteners for the new cover? The top front side of the windshield frame has a track. They must make a fastener that fits into the track.
Thanks!
 
I used to own a canvas shop and sunbrella is the best water resistant uncoated canvas there is(that I know of).
I also own a fiberglass and gel coat repair business and do alot of detailing. I buffed somthing like 50 or 60 boats last season, I use professional products that I buy from a local distrubitor that sells to professional detail shops, these products cant be found at stores, but one of the best products I have come across at a store, like walmart, is restore. It comes in a orange bottle. Its easy to work with and leaves a nice shine. for best results apply an wax, like turttle wax, first followed by the restore. apply both with long strokes (not swirls)using a damp wax pad then wipe off with a clean, old, soft, bath towel. Also dont be shy, wax it two, three, or as many times in a row as you can. It will give your boat a nice thick shell over it. For the best results have it buffed or if you can buff it your self first. Use a light compound first followed by a glaze. when doing this use the buffer at a slow speed and work the material into the gelcoat, if you use it at a hight speeed your not doing anything but making a mess.Also use a wool pad with the compound and a foam pad with the glaze. then follow with the wax. Be sure to clean all the exces wax out of the cracks and corners or it will dry up and be harder to get out and will make the boat look like crap. Another trick i use for that is, after i finish buffing i pressure wash the boat, mostly the cracks and corners, to get all the crap out. But dont use soap or you will wash away everything you applied while buffing it. Then dry it off with a soft towel, and begin the wax. If you want to get real crazy you can spray down the boat with a mist of cold water between coats of wax (and towel drying). Doing this seems to harden each coat of wax and helping to remove unwanted build up. That build up in my opinion is one of the things that makes gel oxadize.
 
85predictor, I would use a cover over a chemical.The sunbrella works great!!
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I would do the cover if it was me, just keep lots of wax on the deck, and the cover will slide right off the mate. As far as fastners, I would look at what taylor products has to offer, I know they make snaps for covers, and I know they have snaps that fasten to the windshield track.Good luck!!
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Heres the web site to taylor products http://www.taylormadegroup.com/frames/fhome.html
Maybe you can e-mail them and they can help you out.
 
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