Proofing my jacket

[Misterbreeze]

My 30+ year old but lightly used XM jacket lets water in through the fabric but the seams appear to be ok. It's TH5, not Goretex. The salopettes (even less use) seem fine. Any recommendations how to reproof or is it time to buy new? Reluctant as probably only 5 years infrequent sailing left in me.

 

[Anibal]

I have always used Fabsil on my mesh motorcycle jacket, the canopy on the boat, the parasol in the garden, umbrellas, etc, and works very well. For the jacket, I spray the fabric and leave it out in the garage to dry. It does not take too long but it is mainly because the smell. Once dried, you cannot smell it anymore

 

[thinwater]

DON'T.

If the tape is the least bit loose (it is after 30 years) the re-proofing, very slippery compounds, will work like adhesive remover and ALL of the tape will peel within a few uses. I have had this happen multiple times. The only cure after that is to lounder hot multiple times to remove all of the DWR and to retape ALL of the seams. Or buy a new garment.

Reproofing is only for relatively younger (<10 years at most) garments that have been laundered enough to remove the DWR treatment.

• Enjoy the jacket as it is. Plastics don't last 30 years without deterioration.
• Reattach (hot iron--easy) or replace any loose seam tape.
• Don't re-proof. The leaks are NOT from the Goretex or whatever failing, they are from leaky seams, and re-proofing won't help that. It's a seam tape problem.