ALMOST(but not quite) BRITTLE SOLO COVER

[andrewbartlett]

The cover on my daughter's Solo is very old , almost brittle but it does keep out the rain. It spent some time in the club,s dinghy park near a hedge and the surface of the cover is rather ingrained and needs a good clean. I'm wondering what best to use to clean it something that may give it a new lease of life and flexibility. Any ' old wife's ' potions perhaps ?

 

[landlockedpirate]

If its not pretty, you cant beat a jetwash. When dry, reproof with Renovo (Expensive, works well but only lasts 6 months) or Fabsil (Cheaper but no direct experience)

 

[Lakesailor]

I've never managed to rejuvenate an old boat cover. Once they become crinkly they don't seem to last a lot longer.
The one on my little motor boat is soft but the stitching is going. The one on my Solo is pretty good.
I only use them in winter though.

 

[Lodesman77]

If you jetwash (I do on my sprayhood, acrylic canvas) then best to put it on grass rather than a hard surface... If it survives that then I use Fabsil Gold to reproof, it lasts about 18 months or so. Get the 1ltr tin and brush it on, don't get a spray. Cheapest from camping shops...

 

[Searush]

Phil, your Solo cover is only a few years old, so it should be fine, but it has been in the open all that time so far.

But once the PVC ones get "crinkly" (usually a consequence of UV degradation, I think) I reckon you've had it. New ones are less than 100squid, so that's probably less than a tenner a year for pretty good protection, so why worry.

Mine (now Phil's) was a seconds off e-bay & I got it for under 50 squid including postage - a brilliant buy, even if the bow fastening clip had 2 plugs & no socket! I never did get round to swopping one plug for a socket!

 

[lw395]

The cover on my daughter's Solo is very old , almost brittle but it does keep out the rain. It spent some time in the club,s dinghy park near a hedge and the surface of the cover is rather ingrained and needs a good clean. I'm wondering what best to use to clean it something that may give it a new lease of life and flexibility. Any ' old wife's ' potions perhaps ?

What is it made of?
PVC?
Canvas?

PVC can be cleaned with Cif or similar.
Pressure washers on full chat can damage fabrics, but a medium setting is good.
I've just cleaned up an old canvas one, soaked it in persil after a pressure wash.
I might reproof it with Thompson's water seal, if I've got any of the spirit based old sort left.