How water proof is Sunbrella material really? 100% as claimed? Or is it a case anything will leak if saturated enough.

Im a bit dissipated with my relatively new bimini and sunshades ability to keep us dry (in rainy weather). I will be even more disappointed if it is not made out of sunbrella as paid for. I have used this upholsterer for years and really like his workmanship, but I haven't confronted him about this yet. He also made the dodger at the same time and asumably out of the same roll of material. It remains bone dry under that....

A Bimini with water sitting in it will eventually leak. There are different types of Sunbrella its just a brand.

global.sunbrella.com/en-us/textiles/upholstery/collections/sunbrella-marine-protection-collection

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tarquin1 said..
A Bimini with water sitting in it will eventually leak.

I thought as such. Some waterproofing might help.

The bright side is that it was rainy pretty hard and I would normally choose to stay at home and watch a movie. But all the other conditions pointed towards a good sail (and it was). I really wanted to take my aunt and uncle out and that was the only day I could do it. I may never of noticed otherwise

You can tell by the feel and look of the underside of the material. The waterproof stuff is a bit darker and has a different feel. Its a lot more expensive.
At least you got out and had a good sail.

I was told by a canvas cover maker never to wash a cover with detergent because it loses it's waterproofing.

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Toph said..

tarquin1 said..
A Bimini with water sitting in it will eventually leak.

I thought as such. Some waterproofing might help.

The bright side is that it was rainy pretty hard and I would normally choose to stay at home and watch a movie. But all the other conditions pointed towards a good sail (and it was). I really wanted to take my aunt and uncle out and that was the only day I could do it. I may never of noticed otherwise

Toph,

is it leaking at the stitches, or through the material?
starbrite water proof is great stuff, put it in a sprayer for garden chemicals and brush it on over stitch lines.
I have used it a couple of times on my 8 year old canvas, rejuvenating to the material and makes it look like new again!
cheers Richard

however I got caught out in a 50 knot squall at Xmas and it leaked that day!

I have a waterproof Claybourne jacket. It says to re-oil the jacket as required with a mixture of Vaseline, beeswax and turps from memory.
I bought it 20+ years ago and of course you can now buy a ready to apply, fancy schmancy, solution over the counter for triple the price. I bet if you Google oilskin rewaterproof a home made recipe will show up.
works brilliant.

DM