waterproofing

[Maggie Crowe]

Is linseed oil or wax the only thing for waterproofing fabric or leather? or am I way off base?

[pyrateleather]

Since this is in Twill you may be looking for a period solution but Scotchgard or CampDry usually work very well and there are versions that work on leather... Comes in an aerosol can & is invisible when it dries. Find them in the camping section at Wal-mart & elsewhere.

[Maggie Crowe]

Actually, I am. I realize I should have been more specific.

It seems to me that there were some books they might have wanted to protect as much as possible, like, say, the Ship's Log or a journal. I was wondering how one would do that. Would they put it in some kind of waterproofed envelope/satchel? Or wrapped in something like oilcloth?

[Capn_Enigma]

As the ship's log was in daily use, it would rest in a chest when aboard.

When it had to be transported for some reason, it would be wrapped into an oilcloth within a satchel or a small chest.

Also of interest could be that a journal did not necessarily have to be in book form. William Dampier, for example, transported the journal of his world's cirsumnavigation as single paper sheets rolled in a watertight sealed tube of bamboo and thus prevented them from rotting during the 8 years of his voyage.

[Maggie Crowe]

Thanks so much! That's exactly what I wanted to know. Great! idea about the bamboo (and someone new to research).

[Capn_Enigma]

Glad that I could help!