| First and foremost it is important to know that | | | | (Outdura) tends to use a little bit more finish to their |
| Sunbrella is truely an excellent material. There is an | | | | material than the indstry standard. This keeps the |
| abundance of information available to discuss its | | | | material a littel stiffer, longer. Anyone who has |
| advantages and uses. Most people know it by name | | | | Sunbrella or Outdura on their boat knows that over |
| and demand its use on the cavas for their boat. It | | | | time it begins to feel "softer" and easier to handle. The |
| truely is an outstanding performing material. I use | | | | material itself is not wearing out, the finish is simply |
| Sunbrella on a daily basis and can vouch for how good | | | | evening out. When you fold your canvas up you may |
| it truely is. For many years it has been the benchmark | | | | notice lines that appear in the material. This is due to |
| by which all other materials had to live up to and in the | | | | the amount of finish used. In a good rain and over time |
| consumers eyes, everything else was second best. | | | | those lines should disappear. |
| However, the tide is turning, not against sunbrella, but in | | | | If you put a piece of Sunbrella next to a piece of |
| favor of a competing material called Outdura. The | | | | Outdura I'm sure you won't be able to see the |
| similarites between these materials (both solution dyed | | | | difference between these materials. If I ask you to pick |
| acrylic) are nearly unseen. | | | | them up and feel them and tell me which is which |
| Sunbrella and Outdura both carry an amazing | | | | most people tell me the Outdura is the Sunbrella |
| warranty. Outdura offered a 6 year warranty when | | | | because it feels thicker. In actuality what you are |
| Sunbrella offered a 5 year warranty. Then just over a | | | | feeling is the work of the extra finish Outdura puts on |
| year ago Sunbrella offered a new 10 year warranty. I | | | | their product. Both again are 9.25oz weight. |
| expect Outdura may match that soon. Let's be real | | | | The main difference between these materials is not |
| though each can continue to offer warranties on their | | | | distinguishable unless you have to buy them. The price |
| materials at a staggering pace against eachother. The | | | | is where the difference is. Outdura is about 20% less |
| reason is because BOTH materials will indeed hold up | | | | expensive than Sunbrella. It is not clear to me why the |
| similarly over time. That is because both Mills - Glen | | | | difference is so dramatic. What is clear to me is that |
| Raven for Sunbrella and Schuford Mills for Outdura | | | | more and more boat manufacturers are turning their |
| both buy the yarns that make their respective | | | | attention to Outdura to save money while still offering |
| materials from many of the same suppliers. In fact you | | | | an outstanding performance material. |
| may be surprised to know there are only a handful of | | | | Don't be quick to dismiss a viable alternative to |
| yarn suppliers in the world. | | | | Sunbrella in order to save some money. Both materials |
| Sunbrella and Outdura are both a 9.25oz weight | | | | have a place in the marine industry. I'm glad Sunbrella |
| material. The weight of the material has a tolerance. | | | | finally has some competition in the solution dyed acrylic |
| This means at any given time the actual weight may | | | | fabric market. I enjoy both materials and working with |
| be + or - a few ounces. This is due in large part to the | | | | each company greatly and can only hope the |
| process of weaving the yarns into the finished product | | | | competition of who can offer the best warranty |
| and the finish that is applied to each material after it is | | | | translates into a competition between the companies |
| woven together. The finishing agent is important. It | | | | over who can offer it at the lowest price. Right now it |
| helps to give the material its water repellancy and | | | | seems Outdura has the edge. |
| ability to resist mildew and mold. Schuford Mills | | | | |