I thought I would put together a short guide on how to breath some new life into old outdoor gear. I rewaterproofed a 7 year old tent and the next time we went camping it rained for 5 days straight with no leaks. It takes about 1 hour and cost $30.
Why? - Tent waterproofing is primarily damaged by UV rays, this tent has been used in NZ and Australia which has very harsh UV conditions due to the ozone hole.
- Wash your tent using an appropriate wash. We used Atsko Sports Wash but soap flakes would also work. Do not use normal laundry detergent as this leaves a film on the surface which will stop the waterproofing sticking. Do not use a washing machine as this will ruin the tent, we hand washed in the bath. Rinse thoroughly to ensure no detergent is left on the tent. Ensure the tent is completely dry taking care to make sure that no dust gets on the tent while drying, we dried it inside.
- Buy building silicone and low odor turpentine from a building store in a 1:3 ratio, approx 1/2 a tube of silicone per person tent size but over purchase as the ingredients are so cheap and you don't want to run out half way through. Also get a spray bottle, the cheapest you can find as this is going to get ruined and a large paint brush if you don't have one, you can reuse the paint brush if you clean it immediately.
- Pour the silicone into the spray bottle and then the turps in a rough 1:3 ratio, shake until mixed then spray onto the tent and then ensure complete coverage using the paintbrush. Do this outside as it is smells strongly.
- Ensure the tent is completely dry before packing away.
- Enjoy your like new tent, it will smell the first time you use it but this will dissipate in about a day.
September 04, 2019 at 09:57PM
