Hi Angier,

 

I've probably flown through as much rain as anybody and I have good luck with Scotch #33 electrical tape from Home Depot/Lowes.  I put on two layers; the top layer protects the bottom layer from the sun.  The sun causes the tape to crack like in your photos.  I replace the two layers of tape every three to six months, depending on how much time my Legacy has spent in the sun on the ramp at fly-ins.  It's cheap and easy to install and easy to replace.

 

I recently looked at Steve's 3M polyurethane wing tape; it looks better than my two layers of electrical tape.  I often fly formation with a friend and maybe I maneuver more aggressively, but I get enough movement between the two wing skins at the taped joint to split the tape as it ages and loses its stretch.  I'm afraid that the 3M poly tape would also eventually split and then be too difficult to replace. 

 

Best,

Dennis

Legacy 650 hours