Boat cover maintenance: water proofer / UV protectant

[NCVride]

Last year, I laid my cover out in the driveway and sprayed it using west marine's waterproofing with PTEF.  It was on sale at the time for around $37/gallon.  Dumped it in a 1 gallon pump sprayer and sprayed away.  Sprayed until the cover liked wet.  Left in sun to dry now the water beads like a fresh wax job. 

[Badger]

Do any of you use any of these products on your boat lift canopy? My canopy is about 5 yrs old and I'd like to make it last.

[nyryan2001]

Whatever water proofer you are going to use you need around a gallon.

walking in to a local boat shop they'll be $25/qt.  I did 3qts 2yrs ago and it didn't last.

[jgates237]

nyryan, I'm about to give this a go. Now I just need a couple of days of sunshine.

[Marksa1458]

I use the 303 each spring on my covers - this year the stitching seems to be failing rapidly and wondering if the 303 attacks it. Cover is older so it could just be age.  

[bushwhacker]

Did the silicone treatment to a aging cover that I was considering replacing. Decided to try this to get by another year or two. Applied to all seams on the underside then the next day did the entire top of cover using a 4" paint brush and a blue tarp underneath to protect the basement floor. After the first rain it beaded up like a freshly waxed car. I am pleased with the result. I understand that this will not breath like it is intended to do and would not recommend to use on a new expensive cover. I had little to loose and noticed very little color change.

 

 

 

 

 

[jgates237]

I've done this for two years now with my old oem cover and it has worked fairly well. I certainly would do this to an aftermarket cover like an Evolution as it can be pretty tough on the stitching. You were wise to put something underneath it as it will bleed trough. A frined of mine did this on a blacktop driveway and the driveway sealant got on the underside of the cover. Yikes!