My canvas enclosure has Sunbrella Seamark (vinyl coated canvas) on the top, as did the circa '96 OEM enclosure. The OEM enclosure lasted 9 seasons. At that point the fabric side curtains and the Seamark top had shrunk, zippers were breaking, stitching was letting go, but the coating of the Seamark itself was still intact. I cleaned it with soap and water and sometimes even used the spray setting on a power washer. I also occasionally needed to use diluted bleach to remove stains. I treated it every once in a while with Armour All.
By the time the whole enclosure was replaced, I had banned Armour All from the boat and was solidly in the 303 camp. The new set of canvas has been treated with 303 Fabric Guard and the inside of the Seamark has received regular applications (apx 3x / year) of 303 Protectant.
This enclosure is now 7 years old. The canvas panels are in excellent condition, but the Seamark, which has been supposedly treated with much more care than the stuff it replaced, is about to give it up! It has not only shrunk considerably, but small tears in the vinyl covers both panels and the sections feel stiff and brittle - as if they're cold and dirty. (neither of which is the case)
I noticed as I was applying the most recent round of 303 that it acts, looks and smells very much like it's "evil twin" Armour All. Now that I see that I will have to replace the gently-treated sections in less time than I did the original, neglected panels, I have to wonder: is 303 more hype than help, or did Sunbrella quality go down?
Has anyone else experienced this?
By the time the whole enclosure was replaced, I had banned Armour All from the boat and was solidly in the 303 camp. The new set of canvas has been treated with 303 Fabric Guard and the inside of the Seamark has received regular applications (apx 3x / year) of 303 Protectant.
This enclosure is now 7 years old. The canvas panels are in excellent condition, but the Seamark, which has been supposedly treated with much more care than the stuff it replaced, is about to give it up! It has not only shrunk considerably, but small tears in the vinyl covers both panels and the sections feel stiff and brittle - as if they're cold and dirty. (neither of which is the case)
I noticed as I was applying the most recent round of 303 that it acts, looks and smells very much like it's "evil twin" Armour All. Now that I see that I will have to replace the gently-treated sections in less time than I did the original, neglected panels, I have to wonder: is 303 more hype than help, or did Sunbrella quality go down?
Has anyone else experienced this?