Just taken ownership of a Conway Cruiser 2004. I don't know if it's been treated before or whether it will leak. Would you recommend treating with Fabsil or similar?
Basic rule here is; if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
When you first buy a folding camper, it's possible it may have been stored in the dry for a long period of time. If this is the case, the fibres will have shrunk, and it may leak.
In this case, you need to wet it thoroughly, and dry it out again, at least a couple of times, to allow the fibres to expand and become waterproof again. If it still leaks, then you may need to use Fabsil or something similar.
Remember though; once you start proofing, you should, ideally, do it every year, so best not start, unless you have to.
------------- The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..
So would you recommend hosepipe on it now while it's in the driveway? Or wait and see when we end up in the rain? How much water would get in if it's been dry stored and the fibres have shrunk?
I would have said hose pipe on the drive. That's the normal way of doing it, rather than risking a major leak when you're on site, with no way of doing anything about it. It doesn't take long to remove the soft furnishings, if you're worried about it, but, as long as it's set up, and the weather is ok, it will dry pretty quickly.
It's more than likely, there will be no leaks at all, but better safe.....
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Are the fibres actually broken at the holes or is it more like they've sort of slid apart from one another and there's a gap? The second will "heal" when you wet the canvas but the first type, little snake bite holes, are usually because the canvas has got pinched somewhere when folding the canvas. Take note of where this could happen and try not to repeat the previous owner's mistakes.
As to patching them it depends. On the roof yes, a wee circle of Tenacious Tape might not be a bad idea. In the side walls? I've lived with four snake bites in the side wall of my TT canvas for as long as I've owned it and not a drip of water has come through them. They're not in a high stress area though.
Entirely personal preference, but I would patch, if anything (but then I'm a bloke, with no sewing skills whatsoever! lol).
The way I look at it is that some of the patches on the market are not that dissimilar to the patches you would repair, say, a rubber dinghy with. Those patches not only have to keep water out, but also the contain the air pressure inside the boat. To me, that seems a lot more sturdy and waterproof than sewing, but it does, as Val says, partly depend on where it's situated. If on the edge of a panel, or near a seam, for example, sewing might be the only option, as patches, ideally need a flat surface to adhere properly.
------------- The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others..
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Topic: To proof or not?
