The most popular fabric choice for manufacturing boat covers is Acrylic Canvas. Depending on the manufacturer of the canvas; Sunbrella or Sauleda being globally the most popular, usually they are guaranteed for around 5 years when used in an appropriate application such as a Sprayhood or Bimini. However, there is a catch; the fabric must be maintained regularly, ensuring appropriate care is applied to the product.
Covers situated along the coast of the UK, berthed in marinas or attached to a swinging mooring can be subject to some of the harshest weather conditions the UK receives. UV, wind, rain, acidic pollution, algae, mould, salt and many other atmospheric conditions will naturally deteriorate the canvas over time.
To ensure the fabric can withstand some of these weather types, during the manufacturing process, the canvas is coated with a treatment which acts as a barrier. This barrier protects the acrylic fibres against organic matter and atmospheric pollutants in the air. Without reapplying this treatment, over time this barrier is gradually worn down with the potential to expose the acrylic fibres to be permanently stained and damaged. The life expectancy of the cover will be significantly reduced.
Green algae can find them in all sorts of natural water: salt water, freshwater and brackish water. The UK’s ever changing weather conditions make it difficult to stay algae and mildew free.
Whenever iron starts to corrode, it will form rust which can cause ugly brown stains. If your covers brush up against rust, you’ll be given a pretty bad stain in your cover! Don’t delay treatment of your canvas, the longer you leave it the less likely they will fade at all.
If your boat is situated near an area where air pollution is a problem. The pollution caused by exhaust fumes and power-station chimney fall out can miscolour fabrics. A regular clean will keep them looking good as new.
Seawater naturally contains a lot of salt. Unfortunately, this can end up transferring over to your covers! You’ll need to keep your fabrics salt crystal free to avoid the thread and zips degrading. If left to dry they will attract moisture and allow damp growth.
These kinds of stains aren’t just exclusive to clothing! Food and Beverage stains can be just as bad on your covers and can easily transfer oils from your hand to the fabric, encouraging mildew growth.
Water repellent coatings are used with our experience to determine which product suits your fabric best. For canvas, we use Fabsil Gold, you can find out more about this below
If you leave your covers on for most of the year; we recommend your covers are professionally washed and retreated bi-yearly. Here at C&J, we our proud to have been partnered with Europe’s most experienced and renowned laundry company in the Marine Industry, for nearly 30 years. Rest assured your covers and enclosures are serviced to the highest quality using the best products available in today’s market.
Maybe you think your covers are past the point of cleaning? Maybe you have left them too long? Our friendly and knowledgeable Sales Team will be on hand to advise the best course of action.
Being based in Chichester, just off the A27, we are in a prime spot for dropping off covers for servicing work. If you happen to pass and we are not open, don’t worry – we have a secure drop off box for our customers to use. Just give us a call during opening hours, for that specific weeks’ code.
Some examples of the covers we have had dropped off are below… with some care and attention, we can considerably improve the overall look and finish of the fabric and overall product.
This super-concentrated super-powerful solution is guaranteed to keep you dry. In fact, it’s been designed specifically to be used on fabrics which are exposed to the elements for long periods of time, so it’s super-powerful to make sure fabrics stay super-dry. Perfect for use on equipment such as awnings, marquees and tents.
Easily applied, Fabsil Gold will last longer than other waterproofing treatment and offers unrivaled levels of water-repellency. With 5 times more silicone packed into it, Fabsil Gold is a best friend to those items that see more than their fair share of wet weather or water – including boat covers and sails.
It will bond to a wide range of fabrics including canvas, cotton, polyester and nylon producing a strong, waterproof barrier against rain. The UV treatment will prevent fading and fabric degradation caused by UV rays.
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