From: Rick_Rubio@pci-main.ccmail.compuserve.com
Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 14:53:24 -0400
Subject: Re: Hull Seams
To: "INTERNET:baidarka@lists.intelenet.net" <baidarka@lists.intelenet.net>
>I'm FINISHED with the frame....finally....what kind of seams/stitches
>have you boat builders used on the baidarka skin???? Wolfgang
>Brinck's book shows a "flat felt seam" for the top (bow and stern
>deck stringer)...that's a good strong seam but it doesn't look very
>nice...anyone done something other than that???....Bruce Lemon uses a
>butt seam with cross stitch on his boats but that's with nylon,
>though I don't know if that makes a difference...I've thought about
>using the flat felt seam and then convering the seam with a strip of
>the hull material...I STILL haven't decided on the material to use
>yet...I like the characteristics of hemp fabric (what I've recently
>learned) but the samples I've gotten so far seem to have a looser
>weave than cotton duck...the denim twill sample has a tight weave but
>it's got quite a weave to kill...has anyone out there used hemp for a
>skin covering???Russell
Congratulations! A first-class frame deserves a first-class skin. My
vote is for nylon and Hypalon, butt seamed with cross stitching using
two needles. The seam looks nice, and the Hypalon does an excellent
job of sealing the stitching. I used 11 ounce twill weave nylon,
shrunk by spritzing with water. A 1-1/2 inch wide nylon keel strip
wraps up the stem and covers the stitching. Don't think about it too
much-- get that boat covered and in the water. Do take your time and
double-check, triple-check the frame alignment before covering it, or
your boat will forever pull to one side, reminding you that you forgot
to do this crucial step! Oh well, in about ten years when the skin
(or my right arm) finally wears out, I will straighten the frame.
Rick Rubio
Orange, CA