Message-Id: <199701150049.QAA31615@discovery.skybus.com>
From: "Derek Henson" <dhenson@discovery.skybus.com>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 15:49:46 +0000
Subject: Re: cordura skins?
> Recently I found a source for 400g/sqm Cordura fabric, and I am wodering
> whether the stuff would be suitable for a kayak skin.
We used a heavy gauge Cordura fabric to cover the first skin boat we
built. The Cordura does not have the same ability to stretch as the
fabrics available from George Dyson, so we were not able to pull out
all of the slack in the skin as we were sewing it on. It also does
not seem to respond to the same 'heat shrink' process as George's
fabrics, although we did alter our technique on subsequent boats when
we were using heat shrinkable fabric, so we may not have been doing
it correctly.
We ended up having to fold over and sew down two small wandering seams on
either side of the cockpit starting at the gunwhales and continuing
down part way around the hull to remove the excess slack. We treated
these seams with liquid neoprene and they have remained relatively
water tight. While this may not look quite as slick, I don't think
the Aleutians had access to bolts of seal skin, by the running meter,
so it may be more 'authentic' (no, I'm not trying to open a can of
worms...). :-)
I should also point out that our first boat was only 9 feet long and
slightly beamier than most single Baidarkas, with about the same
depth and rocker. On a boat this size, the fabric would be trying to
accommodate more extreme contours than on a 'normal' sized boat, and
since our slack was relatively small, it may not prove to be a
problem on a larger boat. We subsequently built another boat of this
size but even wider using George's fabric and did not encounter the
same difficulties as with the Cordura.
George's fabrics are more forgiving and therefore easier to work
with, but if Cordura seemed like my only viable option I wouldn't
hesitate to use it again.
...Plus, we can get Cordura in a whole range of colo(u)rs, allowing
not only a boat, but a fashion accessory as well.
> Which reminds me of the recent discussion on
> aircraft dacron.
I spoke to someone recently who was using Dacron as an experiment.
He expressed some reservations about the durability of the fabric,
saying that in tests he could easily penetrate and rip the fabric
using a car key; something he would not be able to do with George's
fabrics. Nevertheless, he was trying it and at the time he had the
boat skinned and was in the process of coating it. I will try and
find out the results and post them in the future.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Derek