What is the issue?
Spray hoods become slightly porous after four or five years of constant sunshine. Once this happens they loose their waterproofing capability.Why address this?
At first small pools of water that stand in the middle of the spray hood start to drip down into the companionway. Over time it becomes increasingly wet beneath the spray hood so nothing that needs any water-protection may be left there.Sail with the Instincts of a Local Pro
Navigation apps only get you from A to B, leaving you guessing about the "where," the "why," and the "how." eOceanic isn't another "nav app." It's the Intelligence Uplift that enhances the tools you already use, powering up both your capabilities and understanding.
Once activated on your device, it doesn't just display data, it brings it to life with real-time situational awareness, giving you a "digital sixth sense" for the coastline.
Go beyond navigation to truly know the coast and everything it offers.
- Sail Stress-Free: Make boat handling easier with a helpful assistant and avoid "hidden" hazards with an extra set of eyes on watch for dangers along the coast.
- Discover More: Most sailors only experience a small fraction of a coastline's rewards. We unlock the "hidden gems" and local resources that create unforgettable experiences for you, your family, and your friends.
- Engage Ashore: We don't stop at the waterline; we bring you in to fully experience the best of the world waiting for you ashore.
The power of knowing. Autonomy, agency, agility and the joy of roaming free.
How to address this?
Thoroughly clean the canvas and spray or paint the hood with a clear water resistant silicone solution such as Fabsil or Thompsons Waterseal, available from most good caravan and camping shops.These products form a colourless, non-staining 'hydrophobic' protection to the fabric which protects and waterproofs the spray hood. They work by creating a water beading reaction, 'hydrophobic', so that the fabric becomes resistant to water and also UV, yet remains breathable.
An annual touch up with this very inexpensive spray made our spray hood serviceable for many years beyond where I would have naturally replaced it. Silicon is very versatile on a vessel and can also be used to renovate plastic, rubber and wooden surfaces and protect and lubricate locks, switches, latches, hinges zips etc. So it is convenient to keep a can aboard.
The product comes in two forms, aerosol and paint-on of which the latter is much better as spraying in the slightest breeze makes it impossible to get an even covering, half of it blows away and it smells horribly. Keeping it on the canvas is also essential as it is slippery and should be kept off the decking and well clear of the transparent windows and paintwork with which it tends to bond very efficiently, making it difficult to clean these surfaces in the future. On the other hand putting it on with a soft paintbrush whilst saturating the canopy is easy and presents little difficulty.
With thanks to:
Michael Harpur, Yacht Obsession with thanks to Mark BeaslyHow To Clean and Maintain your Canvas
A photograph is worth a thousand words. We are always looking for bright sunny photographs that illustrate this experience. If you have some images that we could use please upload them here. All we need to know is how you would like to be credited for your work and a brief description of the image if it is not readily apparent. If you would like us to add a hyperlink from the image that goes back to your site please include the desired link and we will be delighted to that for you.
Add your review or comment:
Please log in to leave a review of this tip.
eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, you must read our legal page. However, we ask you to help us increase accuracy. If you spot an inaccuracy or an omission on this page please contact us and we will be delighted to rectify it. Don't forget to help us by sharing your own experience.