Water + Straw = Problem

[Andykev]

Today I took my 12 yr old boy to Waterworld (amusement park, has water slides galore, wave beach, "lazy river", cliff raft slide, two man water slide..etc).

What a hoot!

I went down the first slide, a tube thing, which dunks you in the water at the end. I was wearing my Cuenca Straw 40's style which was made by ART. Well, I looked at the people on the ride ahead of me, and they had a grand time. I figured I'd have the same. It was a great ride, but upon getting to the end (I was on tube #4, the fastest and fully enclosed slide) I was dunked completely underwater!

My straw hat immediately turned into a soft dish rag. The remainder of the day with repeated soakings on the rides had me looking pretty sad.

Now my hat is on the hat stretcher block and is drying slowly. The leather is gently stretched to remove wrinkles, and the crown did not mis-shape. The brim is something else. I think upon drying, the brim will later be easily reformed.

The lesson for today: Straw and water DON'T mix.

Good thing I had the forsight to leave the Montecristi at home

 

[Panamabob]

I just don't like those Cuencanos...a fine place to live, buy you need to buy the really good Cuenca hats that are chemically treated differently.

 

[Andykev]

Huh? I don't understand. I dunked my melon under water wearing a hat at a high rate of speed. Multiple times. I am looking a the hat now....the crown is undamaged and not misshapen.

The leather is now unwrinkled and slowly drying (proper way to handle wet leather). There was no staining to the straw from the sweat (thanks to Art's good quality stuff).

The brim looks sad. Misshapen. I don NOT doubt it will block on the flange and iron and steam back to shape.

All in all...this is a good example of what to expect if you got caught outside ina sudden downpour with a straw. Nothing can't be fixed with a good hat.

 

[Butters]

See thats what i cant understand about straw hats, i would love to go to the beach wearing one, but im bound to get wet. So it would really restrict me from wearing something nice to the beach, which is one of the only things to do here. They need to make some Uber straw that could withstand water.

 

[Andykev]

Regrets

I have a "store bought" straw hat that is heavily stiffened! I should have worn it today instead of the natural Cuenca straw from Art. It would have "shed water".