IS it any good? Should I go canvas as well as keep the polyester... basically is it a lot more faffing and upkeep with a canvas?
MAny thanks
------------- March 2012: The orchard, Suffolk
April 2012: the strangers inn, Manningtree
May 2012: Wyton Lakes, Cambridgshire
August 2012: The orchard, Suffolk
TBC:
June Half term
August again
October Half Term
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I would say definatley go for "Cotton" canvas, we went from an old Marechal "Cotton" canvas tent to a brand new "Cotton" canvas tent with ZiG back in 2008.
Having said that, I do prefer the straight sided design of the traditional "Cotton" canvas tents, but not having a ZiG would now be too much of a compramise to far for us now.
I don't know for sure, but it looks like an elderly Raclet, Marechal or Jamet. All of these brands are good quality tents. However, with the draught flaps on the outside, it is harder to seal it up, ie, if the flaps are on the inside you can place a groundsheet on top of them & seal it up almost as good as having a SIG.
Canvas frame tent's are quicker to pitch than most polyester family tents, more sturdy in windy weather, and don't take any more looking after than modern tents. A canvas tent may need to be waterproofed after around 20 years, and once you start waterproofing you will need to do it every couple of years, but then the tent will live to be 30 years old or even more if you look after it. A polyester tent may die after 5-6 years, when the PU coating on the inside starts to break up due to UV exposure.
I would say go for a canvas frame tent as well as your polyester, as it will extend your camping season.
Warmer in the cold weather, cooler in the summer. Will enable you to comfortably extend your camping season
Easy to heat and no condensation problems.
Quiet (no flapping in the wind) and solid as a rock in bad weather.
Easy to pitch too.
And they look fantastic!! (And smell wonderful )
Disadvantages (for some folk - not me!!) -
That size tent would ne very heavy & bulky so would need a lot of room to store and also to transport (do you have a trailer or a large vehicle?)
Have you space to dry it? If it is very wet when you strike camp, canvas is best dried on the frame (takes a surprisingly short length of time though) otherwise you may find it shrinks - this is not a huge problem and when pitched and wet again will stretch.
As stated above, with this model with external mudflaps it will be more difficult to get a good 'seal' - you may find you get draughts underneath.
But it looks a nice tent - though check first how it has been stored, that there is no sign of mildew or mould, that the canvas, zips and bedroom pods are undamaged and no poles are bent.
And if it seems in good nick and you are happy with the above 'disadvantages' then go for it.
------------- Anne - mad mum to one - foster mum to many - adoptatent to you guys!
I know this is an old thread and op may not even frequent this forum any more but is this a Marechal Chalet 6? I have just bought a Marechal Chalet 6 and not seen it fully erected yet however as I have the instructions and can see the fabric colour I think this may be it
Will try to erect it tomorrow weather permitting as need to know how many springs it needs replacing to make it easier to erect. It will be our bad weather / easy erect tent although hubby likes the 4m bell tent and awning he understands it's not the best combination in adverse weather (good excuse for another tent I thought ).
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Topic: need canvas help
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