Hood waterproofing

Post by **Doug G** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:48

I seem to remember posting this query before but cannot find it or the answer(s).

The hood on my moke leaks through the stitching after a few minutes of heavy rain - yes, it does rain here in the caribbean from time to time.
If I keep going fast enough I don't need side flaps

What is the best was to prolong the water resistance of the hood?

White shoe polish/candle wax/silicone sealant/ some special waterproofer/other?

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Tue May 15, 2007 2:15

You could try seam sealer for tents. I used black silicone pushed through from the underside but it wasn't very good. It didn't bond onto the vinyl very well and it looked terrible on the inside.

Tim

Post by **Doug G** » Tue May 15, 2007 2:33

I can get white |(hood is white on outside 'grey' inside) or clear silicone.

Worth a try to seal the thread holes?

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Tue May 15, 2007 7:37

I wouldn't recommend it. I find that silicone seems to attract dirt and dust that sticks to it and stains it. If you were able to just get it in the right place it might be ok, but it tends to smear. On the inside you'll see it against the grey and on the outside it will peel up where it doesn't adhere to the vinyl properly and dust and crap will stick to it and make it visible.

Try to get something like this

Its a sort of liquid that dries fairly clear. You apply it on the inside of the seem and it soaks into the stitching. On tents you can usually only see a slightly shiny area where its been on the surface of the fabric on the inside. That sort of thing is available from most camping shops here, you might have to get it over the internet.

Tim

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Tue May 15, 2007 7:42

I should add, I don't find that the stitching in my roof leaks much anyway, mainly while its parked, but not noticeably when I'm driving. I get water coming in through enough other places that perhaps I don't notice the seams.

Tim

Post by **Nigel(no top)Sykes** » Tue May 15, 2007 21:14

I find that the water generally soaks through the whole of my hood - particularly on the seams, the stiching of which now seems to be disintigrating

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Tue May 15, 2007 23:24

Perhaps you need a new one

Tim

Post by **Doug G** » Wed May 16, 2007 0:51

That response deserves a

Post by **Nigel(no top)Sykes** » Wed May 16, 2007 16:56

Off on a bit of a tangent I know, but has anyone else noticed that the windscreen wipers are pointless - ten minutes or more of any sort of rain and the screen is as wet inside as out ?

Post by **Doug G** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:07

Nigel(no top)Sykes wrote:O. . . the windscreen wipers are pointless - ten minutes or more of any sort of rain and the screen is as wet inside ....

Isn't that caused by the condensation of your paniced breath because you cannot see out because the wipers are not that great in the first place?

Post by **Nigel(no top)Sykes** » Thu May 17, 2007 17:50

I don't think it's possible to reach the windscreen with your breath while in motion !

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Fri May 18, 2007 0:14

Henry, my legendary moking mate (the same one who picked up a girl at the uni bar but lost her out the side while driving her home) never owned a roof and had a moke as his only car. He had a great story about travelling on the highway here in a heavy downpour. As the rain got heavier and heavier the wipers couldn't cope with the rain and all the other cars started to pull off the road to wait it out. Of course if he did that he'd just be sitting in the rain as the moke slowly filled up, so he just leaned his head out the side and kept going. It was perfectly safe, all the other cars had pulled over.

He was a bit cold when he got home, but he was used to that.

Tim

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Fri May 18, 2007 7:06

Sounds like London to Brighton last year. Hopefully this year won't be that bad, however in preparation Phil has his waterproof snowsuit all packed.