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Two questions before I answer, as it depends....

1) Does it leak?

2) Has it been waterproofed before? And if so, when?

Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 25/6/2009

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Two questions before I answer, as it depends....

1) Does it leak?

2) Has it been waterproofed before? And if so, when?

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I'm interested in this as well.

We bought a new Cabanon Neptune last year, and used it as we will again the end of July.

When should we waterproof it? and how oftern to be done? and with soemthing like fabisil?

Thanks to anyone who can point me in the right direction

Thansk

Craig 

 If you can take it to a trailer tent dealer who will waterproof it for you but it is upto you .

 it is what I would have done as thay would do  a better job than me

Just a suggestion - and undoubtedly one made many times before - but this topic has been covered oodles of times.......so if you search for waterproof on this forum (using the search button) then I think you'll find what you need.

General rule of thumb seems to be if it doesn't leak don't touch it because as soon as you do you'll have to get into a cycle of reproofing as the reproofing damages the natural waterproof ability of the cotton canvas

Quote: Originally posted by daddyalfa on 25/6/2009

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I'm interested in this as well.

We bought a new Cabanon Neptune last year, and used it as we will again the end of July.

When should we waterproof it? and how oftern to be done? and with soemthing like fabisil?

Thanks to anyone who can point me in the right direction

Thansk

 

Craig 

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You don't need to waterproof a cotton canvas tent or trailer tent, ever...unless...

1) It's getting old, thin and worn out. In the case of top quality canvas such as CGI-Cabanon, Ten Cate and Marachel canvas, this will take twenty to thirty years of hard use. IF the tent is cared for.

2) You clean the canvas with any brand name tent and awning cleaner, or soap/bleach/mildew remover/any dodgy home made cleaner. Or if some little darling blows bubbles all over it (detergent) or if you basically try to clean it with anything but a soft brush and plain water. Even then, as someone here recently found out, you can abrade canvas to leaky thinness.

3) You put it away wet and it gets mildew and you have to clean it. See above.

4) You bought it second hand and they proofed it. Bah humbug, now you have to keep doing it. The proofing solution basically interferes with the natural ability of cotton fibres to swell up when wet, close the weave of the canvas and thus be waterproof. Instead it coats the canvas fibres with silicone type solution and this wears off after a while. So you need to redo it every 4-5 years.

So...if you have a new TT, look after the canvas by drying it REALLY WELL after every trip. Brush off mud and bird poo when they've dried, sponge off any odd marks, dry and leave it alone, basically. Reproofing is expensive, hard work and time consuming and you have to have somewhere you can erect and peg out your unit for a day or too. You can't sleep in it during this time and campsites don't like you doing this sort of thing on your pitch. It's not a job to be undertaken lightly.

I just finished putting the cabin canvas back on my twenty year old Conway Camargue. (See profile pix.) It's made from Cabanon canvas, has never been proofed and though it's now got many stains and is bleached by the sun, it's still totally waterproof, as I was pleased to find out in the monsoon weather we had in France last year. I can see the day coming when I'll have to reproof it because it's seen a LOT of use in its life....but I'm not doing it till that first dribble comes through the roof, trust me.

 

Many Thanks Valk Scot for your advice, appreciate it

I will leave well alone.

Thanks again

Regards

Craig