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Is'nt the world a small place, we are also heading for the Tavistock area next weekend, staying at Lydford.  We have a Conway Coniston and I have ordered 2 of these bad boys I just hope we don'nt need them!

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/redirect.asp?redir=http://www.towsure.com/product/894-Awning_Tie_Down_Kit

Enjoy your hols and I hope the weather is kind.

Stu

I don’t know if anybody else as had this problem with storm straps but we bought one this year from Halfords for our Conway TT. I put it across the front of awning on top of canvas due to it been very windy while we were on holiday in Cornwall during July.  Then it rained very heavy and where ever the strap was touching the canvas water leaked through canvas and also where the water had soaked through the strap and dripped onto canvas it was if it had removed waterproofing out of canvas and leaked in those places too. We had no problem with any leaks until we put the strap on so it was defiantly something to do with the strap. The next day it was dry so nipped to B&Q and got small tin of Thompson’s water seal dumped the strap in bin and reproofed the area where the strap had been no problems after that with leaks. I wonder if there was some sort of chemical in the strap from Halfords that stripped the proofing off the canvas.

Quote: Originally posted by rb199 on 12/8/2008

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There is no need to proof a cavas tent like the Conway, they are made water proof when it rains by the canvas soaking up a little water and then swelling this then stops more water coming through.  The strap removes this action in the same way something touching the canvas from inside would.  Proofing tents like these just helps with the beading of water and limits the amount of water soaked up.  As a scout I camped for years in 140lb ridge tents that must have been 20 years old, they had never been proofed, we used without a fly sheet and as long as you did'nt touch the inside you stayed really dry.

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hi rb199

I am also a strong believer in that canvas does not need waterproofing for many years. I have just sold a relum that was made in 1985 and never needed to be proofed but the tent did not have much use in its life and looked as good as new we also have 2 cabanon canvas tents that have never needed waterproofing  but there comes a time when after many holidays canvas does start to loose its water tightness weather it be down to sun damage on general wear and tear such has thinning canvas where poles are.

Our Conway is 16 years old the person we bought it off this year had waterproofed it in places in the past so has you rightly say the natural fibers in the canvas are then spoilt.

When we bought it and tested it with the hose pipe it was leaking in places and like you say we hoped after it had dried it would be okay the next time it got wet, but we had no such luck so the need to waterproof was obvious and not knowing which parts had been treated in the past the best solution was to treat all the canvas and avoid having different colored patches all over the place. After treating with Thompson’s water seal it was then waterproof.

There are many people using these straps on canvas tents but I have not heard anybody mention that it caused the canvas to leak. As I said in my post it even leaked where water had dripped from the strap down on to the canvas even in places where the strap was not touching the canvas. This led me to think it could have been something in the strap that was being washed out on to the canvas with the rain.    

be carefull putting storm straps over canvas for long periods as it will rub on the canvas , and can destroy the water proofing at that point , or worst case rub through the canvas

Quote: Originally posted by sweepy on 12/8/2008

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When we had our Conway Trailer tent we used the strap. We still do with our Pullman, but we did not put it over the canvas but over the little stub poles on the front of the awning. We still do this with our Pennine when required. It is also possible to put it over the frame under the canvas and peg it down inside the awning. Hope this helps. We have been glad of our strap if only for reassurance.

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