303 protectant

[Pikey Dave]

After trying various treatments for Hypalon tubes over the years I think I've finally found "the one".....303 protectant. It's not new, been around for yonks & has been mentioned before, but I thought I'd add my 2 penneth.
Previously I've tried, in no particular order:-

Armorall:- not bad, easy to apply, looks good as soon as you apply it. Slippery as a bag o' frogs when it's wet & doesn't last.

3M vinyl & rubber conditioner:- expensive, needs some elbow grease, reasonably long lasting.

Ribstore Hypatec:- Absolute nightmare streaky, dull, looks awful, lasts for ages

303 Protectant:- looks similar to Armorall, but it's not slippery when wet, even - non patchy finish, doddle to apply-spray on-wipe off. Still looks good after a month.

The various treatments were used on grey & black tubes. I've only used the 303 on the new boat which has black tubes & I'm very happy with the result. Hopefully it'll help stop mackerel blood & crap sticking to the tubes.

I bought the 303 off amazon, BEWARE. I ordered a 473ml/16oz bottle & when it arrived it was the smaller 10oz bottle (cheeky barstewards) I contacted them & got a refund for the difference. I'm trying to source it in bulk now, I'm sure that buying the trigger bottles is an expensive way to buy it. Looking for a 5l can, anybody?

[Mollers]

Oddly, I concur with some of your results.

I tended to use Polymarine Protectant on the VM and 303 on the SR. Kinda swapped this year. I find that the 303 gives the best results when starting with squeaky clean tubes. It gives a great result on the VM, SR looks patchy with it. Maybe due to the age and condition of the SR tubes.
The Polym gives a better result on the SR.

I do find the 303 hellish slippy though, as did the BRP tech.

[Wightdiver]

I have used 303 for about 5 years now on three different boats. Good stuff, easy to apply, never found it slippery once it has fully soaked in after about 24 hours.

Only negatives I can find are:

Not easy to source locally have to order from the internet
Comes in small trigger operated bottles
Not cheap (what is, where boats are concerned)
The trigger sprays make your fingers ache after half a boat

If anyone can suggest a source for a 5 Lt can which could be decanted into a pressurised sprayer let me know.

Andy

[Maximus]

I've ordered some "303" which should be here today,and I'm looking forward to compareing it.
I've tried all the others mentioned with nothing really hitting the mark on the Black tubes I have.
Just Last night I tried something recommend by my Valleter and I must say it worked a treat!
It's Autoglym Vynal & Rubber careI put it on in the Barn under artificial light and will let you know how it looks in natural light later....really easy to apply and buff and really brought em up well, goes a long way,and doesn't seem too slippy,at least when dry.
So there's another to try!
Time will tell but looks good!

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Maximus

..doesn't seem too slippy,at least when dry.

303 is like greased snake sh1t when poncing about on tubes with wet bare feet, which is my default setting being a fair/hot weather only rib user.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Mollers

303 is like greased snake sh1t when poncing about on tubes with wet bare feet, which is my default setting being a fair/hot weather only rib user.

Did you wipe it off & buff as per the instructions? I've not found it particularly slippery, certainly not as bad as Armorall

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Did you wipe it off & buff as per the instructions? I've not found it particularly slippery, certainly not as bad as Armorall

Nah, I only ever RTFM (refer to f'ing manual) after all else has failed.

Spray on, rub it around and in with an old T shirt. Is that correct?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Nah, I only ever RTFM (refer to f'ing manual) after all else has failed.

Spray on, rub it around and in with an old T shirt. Is that correct?

Close. IF you RTFM, it does say that 303 is non-drying in air. Spray it on, wipe it off & then buff with a dry cloth. I found that by the time I'd got half way around the boat, the cloth I was using to wipe off, was saturated & I didn't need to spray on as much. Just wipe the tubes over with the wet cloth & buff with the dry cloth. You should end up with a dry to the touch satin sheen on the tubes, not greasy or wet. I also did the console on the other boat & it brought the GRP up a treat.

[Mollers]

I always give the upholstery a coat, I'll keep going on the GRP then. I can slip about like a fool on that as well then.

[hadd]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

After trying various treatments for Hypalon tubes over the years I think I've finally found "the one".....303 protectant. It's not new, been around for yonks & has been mentioned before, but I thought I'd add my 2 penneth.
Previously I've tried, in no particular order:-

Armorall:- not bad, easy to apply, looks good as soon as you apply it. Slippery as a bag o' frogs when it's wet & doesn't last.

3M vinyl & rubber conditioner:- expensive, needs some elbow grease, reasonably long lasting.

Ribstore Hypatec:- Absolute nightmare streaky, dull, looks awful, lasts for ages

303 Protectant:- looks similar to Armorall, but it's not slippery when wet, even - non patchy finish, doddle to apply-spray on-wipe off. Still looks good after a month.

The various treatments were used on grey & black tubes. I've only used the 303 on the new boat which has black tubes & I'm very happy with the result. Hopefully it'll help stop mackerel blood & crap sticking to the tubes.

I bought the 303 off amazon, BEWARE. I ordered a 473ml/16oz bottle & when it arrived it was the smaller 10oz bottle (cheeky barstewards) I contacted them & got a refund for the difference. I'm trying to source it in bulk now, I'm sure that buying the trigger bottles is an expensive way to buy it. Looking for a 5l can, anybody?

Been using 303 for a while now Dave it's great stuff Mick recommended it if you find it in bulk let me know 👍

[Jeff]

'bulk' ,,,,, 303 Aerospace Protectant 3.79L Spa Platic Leather Fabric Hot Tub Vinyl Cover Car

I found a number of Car valeting websites used to sell this in bulk - but it seems not many any longer. Always bought the '3.79l' size since the first spray bottle - 3.79 !!! B Yanks

I have used 303 for over 10 years and do find it good - definitely slippy if you dont wipe/buff off the excess

Jeff

[Jeff]

'bulk' ,,,,, 303 Aerospace Protectant 3.79L Spa Platic Leather Fabric Hot Tub Vinyl Cover Car | eBay

I found a number of Car valeting websites used to sell this in bulk - but it seems not many any longer. Always bought the '3.79l' size since the first spray bottle - 3.79 !!! B Yanks

I have used 303 for over 10 years and do find it good - definitely slippy if you dont wipe/buff off the excess

Jeff

[office888]

Originally Posted by Jeff

'bulk' ,,,,, 303 Aerospace Protectant 3.79L Spa Platic Leather Fabric Hot Tub Vinyl Cover Car | eBay

I found a number of Car valeting websites used to sell this in bulk - but it seems not many any longer. Always bought the '3.79l' size since the first spray bottle - 3.79 !!! B Yanks

I have used 303 for over 10 years and do find it good - definitely slippy if you dont wipe/buff off the excess

Jeff

You mean 1 gal?

It's good stuff. Non-silicone, non-petroleum, so it will not inhibit gluing and it won't destroy your existing adhesive.

Armorall = Silicone oil w/ petroleum additives... nasty stuff!

[Nick Hearne]

I just looked back I bought 1 gallon back in August 2004 and still using the same original order so it dose go a long way!

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

I just looked back I bought 1 gallon back in August 2004 and still using the same original order so it dose go a long way!

Or you've got a mucky boat😄


.....sh1t happens.......

[ian parr]

When I had my new black tubes 303 is the product that Chris at henshaws recommended to use ,,that says it all for me !!


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