ANyone kow how to maintain/restore rubber?

[chrisbashforth]

How do I look after my sailing wellies? They're getting a bit faded, crazed and tired looking - is there a simple way to restore their looks before they start to crack?
Same principle probably applies to dinghies and all other rubber based products?

 

[orizaba]

how about one of the dinghy paints,you could have matching wellies and dinghy,not sure about using it on the other "rubber based product" and assuming it would be used in the dark the colour coordination might not matter.

 

[Drascomber]

If they are black wellies you could use tyre dressing.

 

[orizaba]

out of intrest to the above post,has anyone used any paint other than polymarines on their dinghy, i have a tinker tramp that needs some tlc ,the dinghy is hypalon i believe,well the rubbery bit anyway

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
used any paint other than polymarines on their dinghy

[/ QUOTE ] I used Vennezianni Gummipaint (or some such name) on an old Campari dinghy many eons ago. IIRC the dinghy was neoprene (not used now as poor resistance to UV I think) Totally useless. It all peeled off.

I think you are right that the Tinker is Hypalon. All you can do is check the material, Polymarine will proably be able to do that, buy a paint that is suitable and follow the insrtruction especially the preparation.

Wellies though are another matter. Sailing wellies seem to have a very short life. My first couple of pairs did but then I bought a pair made by Nokia. I have had them for over 20 years but I think the end may be not far away now.

 

[William_H]

Here in Oz there is a product called "Armourall" it is availabale in motor spares type shops. It is supposed to protect and possibly resore rubber and plastics on cars. UV degradation is a real problem on car dash boards rubber glass seals and tyres. The armourall treatment does seem to help reduce the degradation. This may be an internatioal product. olewill

 

[jeremyshaw]

303 Aerospace Protectant is my favourite for UV protection.