Sail cover

[Killick69]

What is the best material to use for a sail cover (main sail)?
Is Sunbrella waterproof?/water-resistant? The material of my sail cover, which I think is Sunbrella allows water to pass right through, but it old.

Whitworths sell a water proof woven 100% acrylic fabric. How does this compare to Sunbrella?

What is better waterproof or a fabric that allows water to pass through. I am thinking of the effects when flaking and covering a wet sail
after a day out sailing. It could be salt water or rain.

If fabric is not waterproof, the sail will get wet every time it rains (but will dry out over time).
One can use a waterproofing agent to make a cover such as my old cover waterproof/waterproof again. Has anyone used one of these waterproofing agents and what was the outcome?

On one forum it was stated that the dark blue Sunbrella has a higher UV rating than any of the other colours. Any comments?

[Miker]

I have a lazy stack bag made by Hood Sails in Brookvale over 5 years ago. It still looks brand new. They use the heavier Sunbrella fabric. I think the Whitworths Sunbrella is the same. As to the colours and their UV rating, I don't know. Various studies suggest that darker colours like blue and red absorb UV better and therefore will last longer and protect better than lighter colours.

Spend the money and get a stack bag for your lazy jacks. You won't know yourself!

[Killick69]

I marked the sail cover to achieve a better fit and my good wife sewed it up and attended to some stitching that was weak. I have ordered some sunbrella to make a cover for the tiller and cover over the hatch into the cabin (keep rain off the washboards). I don't have lazy jacks, but this is on the list and a proper cover will then be needed to complete the upgrade.
Thanks for comments and suggestions.

[Phillip]

Make sure you use UV resistant sewing thread!