Waxed Cotton (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Waxed cotton is as the name suggests, is cotton impregnated with a paraffin based wax, woven into a cloth. Widely used from the mid-19th century to the mid-1950s, the product which originated in the sailing industry in Scotland, became widely used by many to make themselves waterproof. It is now replaced by more modern materials but is still used by the country sports community.Early mariners noticed that wet sails were more efficient than dry sails, but due to their weight slowed the vessel down. From the 15th century, mariners applied fish oils and grease to their heavy sailcloth, out of the worn remnants of which they cut waterproof capes to keep themselves dry, 1] the forerunner of the fisherman's slicker. The result was efficient sails in the dry, lighter sails in the wet, and drier sailors.