Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 10:19:11 -0600 (CST)
From: "Dr. Howard Dwyer" <DWYER@uwplatt.edu>
Subject: Light weight covering options
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Hello y'all.
I am considering building a skin-over-frame kayak
following the concepts from the book by George Putz.
He recommends that the frame connections be screwed
and glued with epoxy, but it seems to me that the
screws are really just there to clamp the joint while
the glue dries. They could then be removed. However,
putting a screw through the thin strips will weaken
them (it seems to me). Could I just arrange to clamp each
joint in some other way (perhaps lash it) and skip the
screws ?
Putz also recommends 10 oz cotton canvas duck. Some of you
have been kind enough to offer opinions on this, and several
alternate skin materials.
Part of my goal is to build a boat without resorting to
"exotic" supplies or materials, and to keep the cost down
to a bare minimum. Putz mentions that he knew of a boat
which had been covered in brown paper (grocery bags) and
then varnished, and that it was remarkably sturdy.
I have no experience building boats, but lots building
kites and model airplanes (tissue covered balsa stick frame)
so naturally the reference to paper covering caught my eye.
There is a material called Tyvek, which is a "paper" made
of spun synthetic fiber. It is light, waterproof (or at
least water resistant) and unbelievably strong. This is
the material that those super "over-nite" mailing envelopes
are made from. It is available, rather cheap, and handles
like a stiff paper.
So... what would you think of the idea of a Tyvek covered
boat? Anybody tried this? Is it a stupid idea?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Howard Dwyer
Univ. of Wisconsin Platteville (SW corner of WI)