I'd always thought 5-7 years. We had a new Bimini and Dodger made by Thurston in Newport, Rhode Island, it is now a little over 5 years old. Originally I thought it was robust and well made. I thought we were getting Sunbrella (color toast) but perhaps they short-cutted and substituted a knock-off. I would have thought they used a UV-resistant thread, but I don't think they did.

This year most the zipper and other stitching came undone, the stuff was rotten, it all seemed to happen at once. Our dodger and bimini are inside the house, out of the elements, dry and A/C for one-half the year, the other half in Florida or the Bahamas where the UV can be intense. But, really, I only got less than 3 years of exposure to elements, and it is failing ... badly. The Sunbrella, or whatever it is, also leaks, it is not nearly as bomber as new. And I have treated it with Fabric Guard at least twice.

I wonder if Thurston has a planned obsolescence program, where you buy canvas work from them that has to be re-stitched in a couple years, and completely replaced in 3 or 4 ? Nice annuity they go there ... IF you're a repeat customer ...

cheers, John