Sharing my Stupid Mistake

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   It's kind of embarrassing, but if I can prevent anyone else from making the same mistake, it will make mine a little less painful.
Two years ago, I found a "great deal" on a fabric called "Pro-Tuf Marine Vinyl."  It looked like a decent fabric, so I bought some and made a simple tent-style winter cover for friends.  Well, the fabric is JUNK.  After only two seasons - less than 12 months of exposure to the elements - the fabric is rotten.  The coating is crumbling off, and the fabric tears when you pull on it moderately.  It is prone to abrasion, and anywhere a hole pokes through it, is the starting point for a tear.  

I tried to patch the cover to get one more year out of it, and after 2 windy days, it had torn in three more places.  Besides the cost of the material and my time, I have to deal with the embarrassment of having something I made disintegrate.  I have seen 30-year old Sunbrella sail covers that look better than this.

So there it is - let my lesson be your own.  Do not use cheap fabric, especially on a project that requires many hours of work.  If you find "Pro-Tuf vinyl, RUN AWAY and don't look back.  Your projects are only as good as the materials you use.

-Sue  (smarter now!)

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Sue2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 12 April 2010 Status: Offline Points: 164	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sue2 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Sharing my Stupid Mistake Posted: 16 November 2015 at 4:05pm
	It's kind of embarrassing, but if I can prevent anyone else from making the same mistake, it will make mine a little less painful. Two years ago, I found a "great deal" on a fabric called "Pro-Tuf Marine Vinyl." It looked like a decent fabric, so I bought some and made a simple tent-style winter cover for friends. Well, the fabric is JUNK. After only two seasons - less than 12 months of exposure to the elements - the fabric is rotten. The coating is crumbling off, and the fabric tears when you pull on it moderately. It is prone to abrasion, and anywhere a hole pokes through it, is the starting point for a tear. I tried to patch the cover to get one more year out of it, and after 2 windy days, it had torn in three more places. Besides the cost of the material and my time, I have to deal with the embarrassment of having something I made disintegrate. I have seen 30-year old Sunbrella sail covers that look better than this. So there it is - let my lesson be your own. Do not use cheap fabric, especially on a project that requires many hours of work. If you find "Pro-Tuf vinyl, RUN AWAY and don't look back. Your projects are only as good as the materials you use. -Sue (smarter now!)

PeteinMich Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Member Joined: 24 April 2011 Location: Grand Haven Mi Status: Offline Points: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote PeteinMich Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 November 2015 at 2:09pm
	Good to know Sue thanks for the info!

MattGrant Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Sailrite Employee - Expert Joined: 21 April 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3009	Post Options Post Reply Quote MattGrant Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 November 2015 at 2:59pm
	Thanks Sue. We agree that the selection of materials is of upmost importance. Sailrite actually has a product testing board so we can test the long-term life of everything from fabric to plastic parts and webbing. Our process is not scientific but it is certainly helpful in selecting and offering new products that will last.
	Best Regards, Matt Grant Sailrite

wingless Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Member Joined: 30 June 2013 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 135	Post Options Post Reply Quote wingless Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 November 2015 at 7:52am
	The thread is also very important. The thread on the new enclosure installed by the factory on my new Searay started disintegrating after a couple of years. It then accelerated quickly to the cover falling apart waaay prior to the fabric failing. Before I taught myself to sew, I would spend hours w/ a needle and thread attempting to restore the enclosure to usable while at anchor. It was a losing proposition. They also used Nylon instead of polyester Velcro, which also disintegrated. All the materials selected for the project need to be appropriately selected.
	2000 SeaRay 380 Sundancer Mercruiser 454 MAG MPI Horizon 380hp Westerbeke 7.0KW BCGB many cool mods Juki DNU-1541S Consew CSM550

Sue2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 12 April 2010 Status: Offline Points: 164	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sue2 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 November 2015 at 10:07am
	Going off on the "velcro" tangent - I, personally, have never been a fan of velcro, but sometimes it is the best option. I like to back it up with mechanical fasteners: Like a velcro cover flap for a zipper. I have seen too many velcro-front sail covers flapping in the breeze. Nylon velcro is cheapest, and does not hold up well to UV, but it can open and close somewhere on the order of 10,000 times before it wears out - "high cycle life." Polyester is more UV resistant, but has a significantly lower cycle life. Velcro calls it "medium cycle life," but I've run across numbers less than 1000 openings/closings. This is something to consider - is it a winter cover or a daily-use sail cover? -Sue Edited by Sue2 - 18 November 2015 at 10:07am