Spray Hood Material

[steve6367]

I am about to have a hood made for my boat and am getting conflicting advise about weather PU coated yacht acrylic or PVC would be best. Anyone here have comments on either material? I would place weather protection as the main priority and the boat is used 12 months of the year.

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[MASH]

American "Sunbrella" is the only way to go. All others are cheap imitations.

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[steve6367]

Can you point me in the right direction?

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[BrendanS]

I'll second the recommendation. Sunbrella material is breathable and waterproof, and doesn't fade as the colour is built into the fibres. I have a canopy made of this material, and beats everything else hands down.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sunbrella.com/usa/consumer_marine.shtml>http://www.sunbrella.com/usa/consumer_marine.shtml</A>

UK supplier is,

Dickson-Constant
England
07968-272955
kwild@dickson-constant.com

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[Heckler]

point north in holyhead anglesey sell everything and i mean everything you need to make up a spray hood.
stu

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk>http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk</A>

 

[BrendanS]

They don't appear to sell Sunbrella fabric though!

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[Heckler]

so?
stu

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk>http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk</A>

 

[BrendanS]

You responded to a post asking to be pointed in the right direction to find it

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[dickh]

I understood the best material is 'TopGun' which is Polyester based and lasts longer than acrylic. As others have said try Pointnorth and also other suppliers - look in the back of any yachting mag like PBO/YM/ST and you'll see them all listed.
Unfortunately no-one seems to recommend PVC nowadays, which is a shame as my PVC dodgers seem to have lasted very well compared to acrylic which has a definite problem with abrasion resistance. My spray hood made by Gowen many tyears ago has all the relevant rubbing areas and grab areas reinforced with PVC.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[steve6367]

Quay Sails in Poole, where I am based and who used to make sails / hoods etc for NB Yachts when they were still going can do it in PVC or Acrylic. PVC is cheaper, but as far as I can see is also better other than maybe not looking as nice.

Can anyone who has Acrylic comment on weather it really is waterproof? Looks a bit like a tent to me..........so maybe 85% water proof?

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[Forbsie]

I just had an acrylic hood fitted from Jeckells at the weekend and I can only say that it's the D's Bs and certainly bounced the water off nicely (damn site more than the one on the car!) /forums/images/icons/mad.gif

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[Bodach na mara]

It is only waterproof if reproofed from time to time e.g. with Grainger's Fabsil which costs about £25 for a 5 litre can in Blacks. I have a cover that collects a puddle and will drip by the end of the season.

I second the coments about acrylic not wearing well. I had PVC sail cover, dodgers and sprayhood on my last boat and they looked their age but still performed well. I can't say the same for my six year old acrylic dodgers and there are several holes in the five year old sail cover.

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[BrendanS]

Can't talk for acrylic in general, as there are different grades of quality. Sunbrella is 100% waterproof (mine is 5 years old now, and well used) - never had a sign of a drip.

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