Boat Cover losing water resistance

[Bay Wake]

Hi, I have a 2010 RZ4 and am getting an increasing amount of water in boat when it rains. I have original factory cover. What is best way to treat? 303? Are there other products? Would appreciate any advice from those who have done it. Thanks!

[chpthril]

Ive done this with a few covers. Wash it with a mild canvas soap in a front load machine and line dry. Once dry, its time to treat. Ive used the 303 canvas waterproofer by the gallon and a clean pump up garden sprayer. With the cover laid out upside down on a tarp, coat it evenly until saturated but pooling. Let it dry. if there are any pools, use a clean paint brush to spread out the pools.

[25cents]

BUY the 303 online you will save a ton. I do this to my cover every other year and it really does help. I may even start doing it yearly

[loudelectronics]

Never wet really works well. your cover will get a silvery dusty look but boy does it work.

[Duncan]

Use this soap at a commercial front loader at a laundromat. I did a lot of research on "sports wash" products and that Atsko is the best bang for buck. I use it for waterproof gear, dog bedding, and all sorts of other stuff. Look into the difference between "soap" and "detergent".

Then apply something like this 303 product Chptrl suggested. It was awesome. I suggest this sprayer (selected after research). I used the entire gallon of 303 to coat my cover, surf bimini, and the bimini zip on storage cover.

For application, I did not get as fancy as Chpthrl. I just laid the cover out right side up on the grass and sprayed it. I did two or three coats and had only minor pooling. Chptrhl, is there an advantage to spraying the inside?

HUGE difference after treating. I will be doing this at least every other season.

I suggest not using Neverwet. I have the product and have experimented on various articles. First, you will need a lot of it and it is pricey. Second, I very much dislike the feel of the product. Third, it is not supposed to be very durable. Fourth, I am not convinced it is as vapor permeable as a product like 303.

[ski_antique]

Academy has starbrite waterproof spray with ptfe. It's about ten bucks and a bottle just barely does the whole cover. It will get you through the rest of the season. Down in south Texas, 5 years is about the point most covers go downhill fast unless you have sunbrella.

I had a bimini from Krypt that turned gray on the top in a half season. Brutal.