Message-Id: <199706251615.JAA14252@ns1.intelenet.net>
From: Wolfgang Brinck <wolfgang.brinck@hksystems.com>
Subject: Re: Skin
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 97 11:21:50 CDT
In-Reply-To: <Pine.SOL.3.91.970624222639.20718A-100000@winnie.freenet.mb.ca>; from "AGM96" at Jun 24, 97 10:36 pm
>
>
> I have "shoelaced" up the canvas (as per the Aluetian Kayak) and now
> wondering how to keep the upper canvas/skin tight while sewing up along the
> top seam?
When sewing the top seam, you are also in effect lacing back and forth.
By placing the stitches far enough away from the seam (like half an inch)
you give yourself enough distance to pull the two sides toward the middle.
Picture tight shoes with the lacing eyes farther apart vs. loose shoes
where the two flaps are touching.
>
> Also wondering, I was only able to stretch the canvas about 4" lenghtwise.
> If it is suppose to be 8", will this make for a slow, loose skinned boat?
> I am using a #10, 15 oz coton duck.
>
Probably not. Cotton will keep shrinking for a while with repeated use of
the boat and repeated wet and dry cyles. Also, the amount of stretch you
get initially depends on your specific source of cotton and the humidity
in the air at the time you stretch it. In other words, on a humid day,
you will get less stretch.
On my last reskinning job, I had the skin very tight. Subsequently it
loosened again. I was at a loss until I discovered that the extreme
tightness had bowed the ribs in at the keelson. So too tight is not
good either.
>
> Thanks for your help,
> Arlene.
>
> A. G. Martin
> bvq213@freenet.mb.ca
> Canada
Wolf