I don't worry about water proofing them myself. I like feathers as well. I will shoot vanes, but if I fletch my arrows they are getting feathers. I just like the way they look and how forgiving they are.

As far as being beat up it does not effect them at all. This is one of the things I like about feathers. You can have over half your fletching missing and they still fly pretty good. Which is great if you hit the fletchings with other arrows. Do that with a vain and sometimes you are going to have to refletch that arrow. And both make more noise when they are messed up. Vanes are more quiet if they are in perfect condition, but once one gets messed up they are as loud or more loud than a feather.

The more messed up they are they also create more drag, be it a vane or a feather, but feathers or more noticable. You don't want to shoot old ragged feathers at longer distances. The difference in drag from arrow to arrow will start to stand out after about 50 yards or so with an average speed bow.

Paul