How many sailors clean or wash and reproof their boat’s covers?

Looking at craft seen around me and on my yearly travels, I have say that it’s likely to be not many, but I may be wrong…

Let’s face it, cockpit covers, sail covers, other sundry covers and sun protectors all cost money.

Modern washing machines have low temperature washes, well below maximum that cover material can cope with. Also, there are gentle wash solutions available. I used a proprietary hand wash liquid soap in the machine.

The cockpit cover easily fitted into the machines cavernous drum and a 30 deg C wash selected. The same operation was carried out for the sail cover and cabin side protection cover.

Proofing fluid can be obtained from camping type outlets or on line. It is a very ‘thin’ fluid and spreads as it penetrates the canvass. Once recoated, I hang items on the washing line to dry.

In the view below taken in a popular east coast marina, the ropes on the boat in foreground can be seen to be ingrained with green algae and the cover on a mizzen beyond can be seen to be similarly weathered. No care has been extended to either of these craft in this respect.

Ropes are made of the ‘same stuff’ as a lady’s undies and hosiery … they go in the washing machine, so why not a boat’s ropes?

Note: it would be best to thread the rope through metal eyes and tie off for a smashed glass door would invite some wifely wrath!

Every couple of years, Whimbrel’s halyards are run out using spare old ones and put through a wash, two if needed. I have just done the main sheet and end for ended it.

In the view above, the poor old boat (a Finesse 24) had been abandoned for a number of years but the state her covers are seen to be in, can witnessed around a yard or marina any time…

As said, these items are not sundries: they cost and by lavishing some love and care upon them their life expectancy rises greatly.