Yeah, I always call a “Consumer Rep”
when I want data based information. That response from "Patti" reeks of ignorance.
I have been using Armorall as well as the other products (303, McNett) for a number of years, and I have not seen anything negative about Armorall in comparison to the other products. It clearly is at least as "waterproof" as the other products, because I can still see the tracks of spot application after paddling.
Great response. Do you believe
Patti had any concept of what your were asking? Royalex is a vinyl type product.
Cloth > chemicals
In general, appropriate cloth will provide plenty of UV protection. Chemicals are nice for backup when you can’t cover up. Think about your skin. Best is to stay inside and avoid UV. Next is good clothing (don’t believe me, take a look at the skin on your butt vs. face or back of your hands)Then, good sunscreen lotion is important when you can’t stay inside or cover-up.
So, what does this mean for your boat.
Don’t know Patti’s qualifications
I think its reasonable to assume that she is authorized to say what she did. And by the way, vinyl is a plastic.
Vinyl is SO sun resistant that I don’t
know why we bother with UV protection. All Armorall or 303 do for vinyl is to make it look slick. What makes things serious is when the vinyl scrapes off the ABS. ABS is the structural layer of the sandwich, and it is VERY susceptible to UV damage. When I wear through the vinyl layer, Armorall, 303, or spray paint get me by until I have time to put on some S-glass and epoxy. Because epoxy is fairly susceptible to UV damage, I have to use 303 or the equivalent now and then to protect the epoxy.
Patti and most other “Consumer Representatives” can just stay entirely out of the issue. They know even less than my Subaru service representative.
yerrible
Good grief, that is terrible. I feel sorry for you. Was there a factory warrenty for disappearence? Pee bottles rule.
Forget about all of them
There was a time when 303 was silicon based and Armor All was petroleum based. At that time, using Armor All on the gaskets of your dry suit was a big no no. Who knows what they are now. But the bottom line is that you don’t need to use any of them on your boat. The best UV protection is to store your boat out of the sun. The comparative time of sun exposure between paddling and storing for most people means you only need to store the boat properly. The sun exposure from paddling is not a hazard anyone needs to worry about.
How about driving around?
That can get to be some serious exposure time, especially for exposed ABS.
I’ve used Armorall…
quite a bit through the years on my Royalex canoes. I’ve also used stuff called Teflon Protectant. I don’t use them so much for UV protection as for simply reconditioning the vinyl and keeping the boat slick. I do a lot of paddling and fishing in very skinny water, and the extra slickness really makes it easier to slide over gravel and logs. I store my boats on the south side of the house, in the sun, no covering, and while the yinyl will get somewhat chalky after a couple months since applying the Protectant, the next time I apply it goes back to looking good. Can’t see much UV damage to the vinyl, and I’ve had one of these canoes for at least 15 years, maybe longer, always stored the same way.
my Nova Craft owner’s manuals says
... use Armorall as a UV protectant. No mention of a specific type of Armorall. It is a Royalex canoe.
yes, I heard about that
QCC sent you a refund check that also disintegrated and vanished, right?
I like that
you must have the same subaru rep that I do!
Old Town’s advice:
How do I clean my Old Town canoe or kayak?
HULL EXTERIOR: Wash with mild soap and water. You can also use Murphy’s Oil Soap. To beautify, we suggest a vinyl protectant product such as Armor All®, 303 Products or Pledge. These are safe for use on any of our PolyLink3™, Oltonar/Royalex®, CrossLink, SuperLink3™ and Fiberglass canoes or kayaks.
We do not recommend waxing your hull with a paste wax, such as most car waxes. The wax fills in any scratches or gouges, then dries to a white color, making the damage more apparent.
HULL INTERIOR: Wash with mild soap and water. We DO NOT recommend using any of the above products or polishes on the interior, as the floor of your boat may become slippery.
Teflon?
DuPont Teflon is a major environmental bummer – very, very bad. RK
What’d you go and get the boat mfr
involved in the thread for? Ya think they know any more than a bunch of anonymous posters on an internet forum? Have some common sense next time Yak. ; )
Dogmaticus
Don’t get the Pledge thing, though.
Sure, its a SC Johnson Family product, SC Johnson owns Johnson Outdoors which owns Old Town. But, does Pledge have UV protection and, if so, lemon or what flavor?
Don’t tell String, but…
Pledge comes in Orange.
You obviously don’t own a…
Hot Tub cover…
You would NEVER claim vinyl is UV resistant if you did…
303
I used to get 303 at local store that carried things for 4 Wheel Drive Trucks in Erie PA. See if such a place carries in where you live. Good luck.
Did you know…
that String can read for himself?
Does the orange Pledge leave little orange peels in the water as it washes off?