Highway Ride Tests Coating Adhesion

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Paint will stick to anything-for a while. But the real test comes over time. Fabric, because it is a flexible surface that can absorb water, presents multiple challenges for a coating. Our biggest concern was flogging. If we can’t prevent the varnish on our grab rail from cracking after eighteen months, how can we expect any coating to adhere to a stretchy, pliable surface that is exposed to the elements-storms, high summer temperatures, freezing cold-year in and year out? To answer this question, we fit the test rack to the top of our vehicle and drove at highway speeds for 20 minutes.

  1. Our test rack was angled across the roof of the test vehicle, so that each panel was exposed equally to the air flow.
  2. The MDR Dinghy Paint was relatively easy to apply and adhered well through the test. Unlike other paints, there was no flaking
  3. The Fusion coating failed to protect the cloth. The coating was transparent in many areas and, for reasons, we can’t explain, the fabric suffered more tears than others in the test.
  4. The Marine Shield flag was virtually unharmed in the test, losing none of its adhesive strength and appearing to lose none of its ability to prevent UV damage.
Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.