Date:         Thu, 6 Dec 2001 22:26:01 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Questions about (making) 3 window Westy Canvas
In-Reply-To:  <B8354649.12DA%ben@kbmc.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

> Has anyone out there used Sunbrella for poptop canvas?  I used to make
> marine tops with it, and it seems like it might be a good fit as well,
> especially in the waterproof/mildew proof department.
> Ron?


Plusses (versus cotton canvas):
- Won't fade after long-term exposure to bright sunlight (perhaps an
advantage in marine applications, where it's exposed to sun all of the time,
both directly and reflected off of water; not as important on a poptop,
which is closed more often than open)
- More mildew resistant than cotton?? (No direct knowledge of this but I
wouldn't doubt it)

Minuses:
- Cost
- Not easy to fold; less pliable than a standard cotton canvas, which can
make it harder to close the poptop.
- Less "breathable" than cotton??  (I've read this claim but again have no
direct knowledge)

In terms of "waterproofness," cotton canvas darkens a bit when wet, perhaps
absorbs water more than Sunbrella (which seems to repel it).  But I have not
seen either actually let water in, even in very heavy rain. So I'd call it a
draw in that regard.

Bottom line (in my opinion) is that each has different advantages and
disadvantages. If the price were the same it would be a close call.  But it
isn't. We do offer the tops in Sunbrella, but they're around $60-70 more.
Personally (if I were buying it for my van), I can't say that I pay more for
it. To me, the difficulty in folding would be a more noticable drawback on a
day-to-day basis than any of its advantages, and I'd rather save the extra
money for a more neccessary expediture.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  (215) 234-VWVW
  www.busdepot.com