Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:09:47 -0700
Reply-To: Michael Hart <mjhart853@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Hart <mjhart853@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: [WetWesties] waterproofing
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ascii
A late addition to this earlier thread....
Starting with a 19 year old '85 van with original canvas, I found it leaked
in heavy rain (one of the winter storms passing through northern California).
The canvas got wet through on the sides and leaked pints through the
zipper & window area.
My solution was as follows;
(1). Proof the canvas thoroughly with spray on tent canvas proofer
(I used 2 different brands, they seem similar; from REI or other
camping store). Pay special attention to the main vertical seems
- this may take 2-3 cans total.
This stops the rain coming throught the main body of the tent,
(2). (Buy &) install the 'Westfalia rainfly' that Frank Condelli has on his site
(just google 'Westfalia rainfly') [or make your own if you are so inclined
- I don't know one end of a sewing machine from the other, and the
aforementioned product is very well made].
This keeps rain off the window & zipper area (at least if you have just the
single window canvas).
Since then, not a drop has come in, even through major storms such as
the one we experienced in southern California over Xmas/New Year '04-'05
(mudslides in Malibu, several inches of rain over 3-4 days - just like the old
times when I used to live in the UK).
Mike
'85 Westy (currently a few inches shorter than factory)
Now I know why there are so many threads about 'Big Brake kits' and why
I need to keep at least a quarter of a mile behind the car infront....
I remember that there was a 'stopping distance' chart (how many feet it
takes to stop at different speeds) in my driver's manual when I first took
my driving test (some time ago now)
- I'm thinking of laminating a copy to place on my dash...
'87 Westy (patiently waiting for a repeat of all the work I put into my '85...)
----- Original Message ----
From: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 6:47:07 AM
Subject: Re: [WetWesties] waterproofing (was RE: RAISED ROOF hard tops
On my Westy I have the acrylic 3 vent canvas. The only time I had
water leakage was water that went through the front vent and
accumulated in the seam enough to leak through the zipper....and even
then it only leaked AFTER the poptop was back down.
On Oct 13, 2006, at 8:37 AM, Malcolm Stebbins wrote:
> --- Joy Hecht <jhecht@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
>
>> How do you keep water from seeping through the canvas or the
>> canvas seams in
>> strong rain and wind? How have others dealt with that?
>
> With the 3 different pop-top Westies that I have owned (over 20
> years), I have NEVER had rain come
> in through the canvas or seams. When wet, the canvas swells and
> becomes damp, but never any
> leakage. M
>
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