Regardless of how durable the fabric and how skillfully it's sewn, canvas products are only as good as what holds them together. The quality of thread selected is a major factor in how long the canvas will last.

Chances are, the average top or cover will be exposed to at least some of the following: intense UV rays, cleaning agents, pollution, saltwater and air, rain and snow.  Many agree that the average thread will give out long before the fabric has served its life.

TENARA® sewing thread is guaranteed to last as long as any marine top or cover fabric.  Unlike other threads, TENARA® won't deteriorate from exposure to the elements because it is made from a fiber that offers significantly higher breaking strength than other threads after years of exposure to the strong ultraviolet light of Phoenix, Ariz. 

But the true test of the thread comes from fabricators who use it -- in especially harsh areas like central and south Florida.

Polyester thread used to last four years in Florida; now it lasts less than two, says John Adinolfe, AA Boat Tops & Canvas, West Palm Beach, Fla., who has been offering his customers TENARA® for 9 years.  In addition, dyes in colored polyester and other threads tend to bleed out, he says.  But Adinolfe has had none of these problems with TENARA®.

The Average Thread Won't Last

Experienced boaters know the average thread won't last and it is easier to convince them to spend a little more for TENARA® when outfitting their boat with canvas to avoid an expensive and time-consuming restitch down the line, he says.   Novice boaters can often be persuaded, as well.  "I tell customers flat out, you can pay a little more money for something guaranteed to last or spend slightly less money and be back in nine to fifteen months for a restitch."

Not every shop will use TENARA®, but those that do offer customers a more lasting option.

For more information about TENARA®, contact W. L. Gore & Assoc. Inc. at (410) 392-3200.