Leaking pop tops on 2023 California Oceans

[Viktorgeorge]

No one has ever said the fabric itself leaks water. In fact the hydrostatic head of the double skinned fabric is several times better than the one it replaced. The issue has is only with the seams and capillary action through the stitches.

You have missed my point. I am not suggesting the fabric “leaks water”. I am saying it holds water.

A watering can does not leak, but water comes out of the spout. Think of the seams as a spout, that is my point.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I had mine changed last October to 06 first time out in wet conditions in Cornwall and they leaked, I applied 2 full cans of Aquatex giving it 3 coats in total will report back next time Iam camping in heavy rain

My academic interest will look forward to your report @Jw155 following heavy rain: wondering if your 3 coated fabric is more surface repellant (so no or little heavier in rain than in its dry condition) and if the seams act any differently as a result.

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

What puzzles me is why affected owners do not treat the whole area with Aquatex sufficient to render it more water repellant, can anyone explain what I am missing?

Well, nothing is guaranteed with these bellows.

I've had two 03S originally, replaced with a third 03S and that's been watertight over 18 months of very heavy usage in horrendous conditions.

The issues are mainly seam related and there's a question over how good Aquatex might be in all situations.

You may also need to re-apply it annually.

The pictures @Neuromancer11 posted are awful. I wouldn't be attempting to Aquatex that. The 06S version have a lot of extremely good upgrades - seam tapes, sealing tapes etc - and there are very, very few 06S bellows reported leaking. If you go back to 03S and 04S it was probably most out of the factory but for some bizarre reason, large numbers of Cali owners don't seem to use the pop-top in the rain and hence find problems way down the line - like this poster.

I'm expecting at some point my 03S bellows will leak and if VW won't play ball, I'll get 06S one installed (about 1k). But I absolutely want a van which is watertight and where I'm not faffing around with covers!!!