Canvas vs polyester coated polyester.

waynes world

waynes world

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I have been watching a DIYer chap have a go at making a new canopy from pvc coated polyester and he says it the new thing for boat canopies etc.

this is what he has used

https://www.attwoollsmanufacturing....e4VIa_YE7AOFQ4b_7t48E5dBuzwNtDjbXN4w4IQcoxGUU

myself i dont like the sheen on it for a canopy.

just wondering if many of you guys n gals thi nk of it while sat here getting more fed up by the minute and trying to type with one hand.

this over say topgun or sunbrella.

captain 'not' faffing 'much'
 
doug748 said:
I think that's a version of the stuff they use for the side curtains on lorries, very tough and 100% waterproof.

I would stick with PU coat acrylic, which has that soft finish which seems more in sympathy with yacht jobs.

I have used this brand in the past it seems a good price:

https://www.profabrics.co.uk/products/sauleda-acrylic-canvas-pu-coated?variant=6809916035
Click to expand...

i have wondered in the past why it isnt used for our purposes more

all i can think is

no weldable zips
it is heavy weight towards acrylics. 680grm and top gun being 375grm

i got my canvas from profabrics but top gun.
 
I'm about to make a tonneau cover on a budget, I ordered 99p samples of both of the below.

Both seems really nice, neither look cheap or naff. Hard to tell how long they will last.

If you make the assumptio your time is free, then the low cost of materials is a bonus.

I've ordered the top one, it appeared to be really nice feel to it and seemed tough, its lighter weight which I thought might help the sewing machine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DU...var=581757073640&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Du...var=541558873251&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
 
I made a cover from PVC coated polyester (lorry tarp) last year, materials also bought from Attwools, they do a wide range of weights from light to very heavy. A plastic welding gun bought of amazon for £80 & away you go. Welding is a steep learning curve & you need to practice quite a bit before you start on the real thing. Plenty of instructional vids on You tube that make it look far easier than it is!
As far i am concerned the durability of the stuff far outweighs anything else. Most dinghy covers rot out in a few years & are a waste of money.
 
Ebay cover fabrics can be poor quality: I made a dinghy cover with cheap Ebay fabric that looked and felt just like Sunbrella/Top Gun/Sauleda etc. A year in the sun and it was splitting in several places and the blue had faded to dusty pale. Made a new one with Sauleda from Kayospruce and it's fine so far after 3 years.
 
waynes world said:
I have been watching a DIYer chap have a go at making a new canopy from pvc coated polyester and he says it the new thing for boat canopies etc.

this is what he has used

https://www.attwoollsmanufacturing....e4VIa_YE7AOFQ4b_7t48E5dBuzwNtDjbXN4w4IQcoxGUU

myself i dont like the sheen on it for a canopy.

just wondering if many of you guys n gals thi nk of it while sat here getting more fed up by the minute and trying to type with one hand.

this over say topgun or sunbrella.

captain 'not' faffing 'much'
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for that link!
Never mind the quality feel the width!
250cm will do most sailing dinghy covers in one strip.
The long centre seam of a cover is hard work on a domestic machine working on the kitchen table.
 
waynes world said:
i have wondered in the past why it isnt used for our purposes more

......
Click to expand...


It does seem excellent value. If/when I need a new trailer cover I will certainly use it.

I used to have a PVC fabric sprayhood which got very smelly, tended to be stiff in cold weather and eventually wore through where it was folded in use.
The newer fabrics may be better.
The shiny finish did not look great alongside acrylic canvas, it had a sort of raffish 1960's air about it.
 
James_Calvert said:
Our first hood in 85 was a pvc coated number. Ultimately it went sticky. I wouldn't have one again.
Click to expand...

There may be a good reason to have PVC covers for some purposes, but it doesn't allow the boat or part underneath to 'breath'. My sail cover is canvas and I am often surprised at how quickly the sail will dry out when wet, even under the cover.
 
johnalison said:
There may be a good reason to have PVC covers for some purposes, but it doesn't allow the boat or part underneath to 'breath'. My sail cover is canvas and I am often surprised at how quickly the sail will dry out when wet, even under the cover.
Click to expand...

now there is a good point i missed, infact didnt think of. mite not be a problem with a canopy or hood though.
 
Canvas type fabric looks far better,is probably lighter weight, and does the job perfectly well.
 
MartynG said:
Canvas type fabric looks far better,is probably lighter weight, and does the job perfectly well.
Click to expand...

I reckon it looks better, as in canvas like top gun etc, pvc is a lot heavier at near twice the weight but, it more expensive.

pvc coated polyester has been around for a long long time so wonder still why the canopy makers dont use it.
 
jwilson said:
Ebay cover fabrics can be poor quality: I made a dinghy cover with cheap Ebay fabric that looked and felt just like Sunbrella/Top Gun/Sauleda etc. A year in the sun and it was splitting in several places and the blue had faded to dusty pale. Made a new one with Sauleda from Kayospruce and it's fine so far after 3 years.
Click to expand...

This is good advice,

I made my cover from the cheapo £6/mtr ebay fabric because it was a trial run to see if I could do it and get a resonable result without wasting expensive material.

I hoped that it would last 2 years.

However, its now less than a year old and wrecked, the fabric has little resistance to wear, although shows no signs of fading.

Now I am in the process of selecting between Sauleda, Top Gun and some others.

Cheapo stuff might be ok for sail bags or things not left outside.
 
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