FLAT DINGHY COVERS

COVER MATERIALS FOR FLAT DINGHY COVERS.

We offer a choice of three materials. See further down this page for notes about fabric breathability.

Lightweight totally (100%) waterproof. A polythene coated polyester grid beige colour, giving good strength and full (100%) waterproofing, although alas therefore no breathability. Easy to use and packs up small so convenient to carry around. This material is used for our lowest priced cover, yet still forms an excellent choice.

Lightweight 90% waterproof and breathable. A polyester woven textile fabric burgundy colour, giving excellent strength, good (90%) waterproofing and keeping that all important breathability, particularly appropriate for wooden boats. A 90% waterproof material will generally only let water through where it is in contact with a hard surface; you can still get large puddles lying on the fabric demonstrating how waterproof it is! Unlike cotton a polyester fabric does not soak up damp from the air, something that cotton is very good at doing!

Easy to use and packs up small so convenient to carry around. This material is used for our middle priced cover, forming probably our favourite choice.

Heavyweight totally (100%) waterproof. A PVC coated polyester grid red colour, giving good strength and full (100%) waterproofing, although alas therefore no breathability. Thicker than the others perhaps the prime choice in strength and waterproof protection. This material is used for our most expensive cover, and probably forms our ultimate choice.

Note about breathable and breathability. Strictly speaking this term does not have anything to do with breathing; it is all about allowing water to evaporate through the fabric (permeability). We have not found any fabric / material that achieves the Holy Grail of 100% waterproof (that is totally impervious to water) which is also breathable. It seems to us that this is a contradiction; you can have one or the other, not both. True, there are fabrics that supposedly achieve this when used as outer clothing (eg Goretex). The catch is that the breathability is forced by the warmth of the body wearing it; rather difficult with a boat cover!

• Our breathable fabrics comply with
• BS5066 (resistance to shower)
• BS3702 (resistance to wetting)
• BS3424 (water vapour permeability)
• British Standards Institute