Mending a 'breathable' waterproof boat cover

[dancrane]

Big slash in my cover, which I have mended repeatedly with duct tape, sometimes for a week, sometimes it lasts two months, but it'd make things much easier if I could patch it in a way that would be as strong as the rest of the material - and as waterproof.

Isn't there a kind of rubber-glue that welds fabric and waterproofs it?

The finished result needn't be great to look at - just tough and waterproof.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Unless you can say what material it is made from it's anyones guess.

 

[dancrane]

Really? I thought there were tough, slightly pliable adhesives which would stick any cloth to any other cloth, regardless.

Off the top of my head I can't remember the company name on the cover, but it's a sailmaker.

Ultimately I don't mind stitching a patch over the damaged area - providing I can then waterproof my stitch holes as well as the area where the repair patch meets the original material. The stronger my repair, the tighter I can pull the cover, so the less likely water will be to pool on top.

I also want to put a couple of small reinforced patches in the middle of the cover, so I can attach a shock-cord to a halyard and keep the cover 'tent-shape'. The cover wasn't formed with allowing a boom-up position.

 

[ningcompoop]

Google "Seamgrip" - I've used before to repair walking gear, a bit messy and not cheap but usually works very well providing you can follow the prep and application requirements. Available from outdoor shops.

John

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Really? I thought there were tough, slightly pliable adhesives which would stick any cloth to any other cloth, regardless.

At least you have now told us it's cloth rather than plastic but it's anyones guess.
FWIW I've found Gorilla glue to be very good with some materials....both cloth and plastic. Not much good with polythene though.

 

[dancrane]

Thanks for the suggestions. If it's any help with identifying a suitable adhesive, my cover looks like ordinary, dense-woven natural fibre, (though probably it's artificial) creating a heavy fabric, but it has a kind of backing which makes it waterproof. And...somehow, probably due to molecular size, it's also apparently breathable. More than that, I don't know.

 

[Tranona]

Sounds like normal acrylic cover material! If it is split the only way to repair it is to stitch a patch over the split. My wife has done quite a few on my cover over the years. Sail repair tape works short term on small areas but won't take any tension.

 

[dancrane]

Thanks, since starting this thread, it has occurred to me that needle & thread patching is indeed the answer.

Since my bailers leak and will be costly to replace, I'll be using mastic to seal them shut for this season; and since my trolley doesn't encourage the boat to sit with her bow in the air (which would let water drain through the transom), I'll really need the cover to keep water from accumulating in the cockpit.

I wonder if sail-makers (I think North or Hood made my cover) sell the fabric the covers are made from, for repairs? Not bothered about appearance much, as long as it's rainproof.

 

[Tranona]

Hawke House (among others) for material. but you might find a friendly sailmaker to sell you an off cut.

 

[dancrane]

Thanks for that.

 

[JClarkes]

Definitely needs a patch and repair job. If your handy with a sewing machine then get an off cut piece (scrap piece) from your local canvas maker. May be worth asking how much he would charge to sew it themselves. Would not take more than 30minutes work. Tell them to reinforce it and put a piece of 25mm webbing strap sewn in a loop so you can hook it to the boom.

 

[dancrane]

Thanks for this, I'm pretty rotten with needle and thread, but tightfisted enough to have a try myself. Good idea about using webbing for reinforcement. :encouragement:

 

[prv]

The missus doesn't have a sewing machine, then? It's amazing what a difference it makes.

Pete

 

[dancrane]

Alas, no. If she had, I mightn't have done such an average job of my reef last year.

Is the cloth for breathable covers, likely to be sold by the manufacturers in small sections over the internet? I doubt I need more than 24" x 8".

 

[alahol2]

I expect this is what you are looking for... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Acrylic-Canvas-PU-coated-Boat-Cover-Material-/221064082034
If you have any sailmakers/cover makers/tent makers in the area they would probably sell/give a small piece like that.

 

[dancrane]

I reckon that'd be ideal, thanks.

I'm reluctant to promise that I'll post a photograph of my work, when it's done.