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Quote: Originally posted by mattsurf on 20/7/2012

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The main reason not to reproof is that by repoofing you destroy the natural waterproof in the canvas - as canvas gets wet, the fibres expands and forms a wateright seal, the advantage of this is that the canvas can breath when it is dry. When you use chemicals to waterproof canavas, you create an impermiable barrier which will not breath as well as untreated canvas.

Canavas which is well looked after will last many years, I do not believe that by using Fabsil etc you will extend the life of your tent

Maybe it is just me.... however, getting the tent out on a dry day, adding Fabsil to the pressure wash, spraying the entire tent and awning, brushing sealant into the seams, ensuring the no sealant goes on the windows - This does not sound like a trivial job, in fact it sounds extremely time consuming and expensive and will need doing year after year. Much better to look after your canvas and never waterproof it

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I opened my Pathfinder this weekend after our Brittany trip. It was a very wet holiday but we made absolutely sure everything was dray and clean before packing away. To my amazment I found some very small black markes on the one side of the roof. Now I can't say for sure that these aren't old marks or not and we did have a seagull attack as well. So I bought a bottle of Milton, a new bucket, mop and cleaning sponge. I made up a solution of Milton and mopped the roof panels with it. It seems to have cleaned up the marks and seagull attack but not without a certain amount of bleaching of the colour. I accept this as all beeing part of the natural wear and tear of a tent/camper and as it's on the roof panel, not too noticeable. I kept a close eye on any leaking through the canvas while I was treating the roof but with no evidence of any. So I am feeling better about it now and glad that I did it. At the end of the day I suspose that try as you may you will never keep canvas like new and use the camper as intended.

regards to all

F

I suppose I may be guilty of accepting what I have been advised rather than looking into it in too much detail. I am certain that the majority of tents that have been re-proofed have been done because the canvas has already been damaged, whereas Oldfodder is taking the approach of re-proofing as preventative maintenance - which may well be appropriate.

My personal experience was gained 20 years ago, when I had a very nice American Canvas Tent, one summer it leaked a little so I thought that it just needed a bit of waterproofing - as a result, the tent became as waterproof as a seive.

Quote: Originally posted by SGThomas on 24/7/2012

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Cheer up Oldfolder we love you really

from a lad that has owned canvas tents from the late 40's and never reproofed. (this is a bit like Top Trumps)

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Quote: Originally posted by mattsurf on 25/7/2012

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The Daily Telegraph! Upper class campers

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