Treatment
(Canvas manufacturers acknowledge this is difficult and very
time-consuming, with limited expectations of success. Therefore, it
is desirable to avoid the necessity of mold and mildew treatment.)
• If growth is established, vacuuming with a HEPA filter unit would
be the first step followed by cleaning.
• For fabric and vinyl surfaces, shampoo lightly with an upholstery
shampoo.
Focus on Prevention
The key in eliminating mold growth is controlling moisture.
Remove it as a factor and growth simply will not occur, so maintaining
a cool and dry condition with clean surfaces is paramount. Using a
dehumidifier isn’t practical for boat storage, but a simple remedy
can be using desiccant bags. They must be monitored as they will
absorb moisture and become ineffective, but they can be replaced,
and this is a relatively inexpensive method. They are available in
packs for a normal-sized boat and called Boat Dry, purchasable from
Sun Solutions at www.sunsolutionproducts.com.
When the boat is ready to store, the best practices are:
• Clean and dry the boat thoroughly.
• Place a Boat Dry set of desiccant bags throughout the boat.
• Put the mooring cover on and tightly ratchet (seat will be created
at the rub rail).
Drying out a boat is difficult but the extra care you take will keep
your boat looking new for a long time.
Condensation Cause and Protection
Water vapor in the atmosphere will condense onto another surface
only when that surface is cooler than the dew point temperature, or
when the water vapor equilibrium in the air has been exceeded. The
dew point temperature is based on the air temperature and relative
humidity. A typical example is with 90
0
F air temperature and 50%
RH, the dew point temperature is about 73
0
F.
Many times, through the evening dew will condense onto all
outdoor surfaces like grass, cars, patio furniture, toys, bikes, and the
like as the air temperature and surfaces cool below the “dew point.”
Once the morning sun heats the air temperature or those surfaces
heat up enough, the dew will evaporate back into “humidity” and this
cycle continues as long as the weather conditions permit.
When you cover your boat, you are sealing the outside air in its
present state under the cover. Also, if the boat wasn’t dried out,
that additional moisture will add to the wetness of the trapped
environment. As the air and surface temperatures cool below the
dew point the water vapor in that air will condense onto all surfaces
inside the boat. In the morning, it will take longer to heat the air
and surfaces under the cover as it affords protection, thereby
lengthening the time it takes to have the condensation evaporate.
It’s very possible if weather conditions change that the condensation
may not return to vapor for quite some time.
This condition is often misunderstood as the cover “leaking”
water through the fabric, but because of the fabric’s high hydrostatic
water resistance (160 cm) this is not possible. It’s understandable
to think that having the cover wet underneath is somehow due to
it allowing water through, but it is just condensation forming on its
surface. It’s like camping in a synthetic tent; if you’ve ever done it,
you’ll remember water beads form on the tent surface and bumping
the tent would cause them to “rain” on you.
Pooling Water
Water can pool on a cover for various reasons. However, the
Malibu cover is designed to combat this by having the overall features
134—Care and Maintenance
and characteristics work in concert to maximize its resistance. The
fabric choice requires it to be lightweight, high strength, coated,
water repellent treated, and dimensionally stable. This minimizes
the fabric adding weight, and its strength and stability allows for the
necessary tight fit.
The “face” surface is treated with a water repellency, lowering
the surface tension so water beads up and runs off. The “back”
surface is urethane coated, providing additional defense against
water penetrating the cover. The new water repellent lowers the
surface tension further over traditional treatments where the water
beads move sooner joining with others making them run off the cover
sooner and faster. It also increases hydrostatic water resistance
(the ability of fabric to resist water penetration) from about 100 cm
to 170 cm.
All “face” water repellent treatments wear off and the “water
beading” will lessen eventually, allowing water to be absorbed by
the fabric fibers, but the “back side” urethane coating will provide
the second defense of penetration.
A traditional “face” treatment lasts about six to nine months, and
tests on the enhanced treatment (BW+) show it will last three to four
times longer.
In all cases durability of the treatment is very dependent on the
environment and use the cover experiences. Providing the enhanced
water repellent as a reapply alternative isn’t possible because it
requires a controlled bonding process to properly attach it to the
fabric surface. There are various aftermarket repellents available,
but because they are mechanically attached, they usually only last
about one month or so.
Maintaining Zippers and Hardware
• Lubricate zippers periodically using a clear silicone spray.
• Spray silicone on the zipper and work the zipper back and forth.
• Lubricate fasteners periodically using a clear silicone spray to
keep corrosion to a minimum. Replace any missing fasteners or
fasteners that show signs of corrosion.
• Do not use petroleum-based products, i.e. petroleum jelly.
Maintenance Tips
• The real key to canvas longevity is like all things in life:
maintenance. Keep the canvas clean of dust, dirt, and environment
residue on a regular basis.
• Top fabrics should be cleaned of any dirt buildup at regular
intervals.
• We recommended applying a mild, lukewarm soap solution, such
as a liquid dishwashing soap, with a soft brush or sponge. Water
temperature is not to exceed 100° F.
DO NOT
allow the soap to
dry. The fabric must then be carefully rinsed with clear water in
order to remove any remaining soap residue. Allow canvas to dry
thoroughly. Do not use detergents.
• The use of abrasive detergents and/or substrates containing
solvents or gasoline will damage the fabric. If using high-
pressure or steam-cleaning devices, use caution as improper
use could damage the vinyl coating and/or fabric.
• Using harsh chemicals could void the fabric warranty on your top
if not recommended by the manufacturer.
•
DO NOT PUT MARINE CANVAS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD DRYER. DO NOT
DRY CLEAN BOAT CANVAS.
The performance results shown in this
information are not guaranteed for all
upholstery products. The evaluations
are indicators after laboratory tests and may not be indicative of
field performance.
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Страница 171: ...Service Log 163 Date Date Date Date Date Date Date Date...