Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 10:33:00 -0500
From: "Wolfgang Brinck" <wolfgang.brinck@hksystems.com>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Subject: Re: [baidarka] Gunwale height
A few years back, I inquired about the address of the author who wrote a
book on building plywood skiffs. The editor I talked to said that the
guy wasn't building boats any more because he'd become sensitized to the
epoxy. So toxicity is definitely an issue.
I use canvas mostly because it's cheap, but whenever I replace a skin
that has rotted, I think longingly of more durable synthetics.
Apparently people on this list have dealt with the nasty chemicals and
not poisoned themselves, at least not fatally, but as you point out, the
effects are cumulative.
Back when I was in school, taking chemistry courses, somebody told me
that the life expectancy of organic chemists - people who work with a
lot of solvents - is 5 years less than that of other chemists.
It's kind of like being a bomber pilot. You can fly a number of missions
and come back alive, but in the long run, the odds are against you.
Wolfgang
David Baranoski wrote:
>
> On Thu, 16 Jul 1998, Chris Kohut wrote:
>
> > At the risk of inspiring incendiary missives, (INCOMMING!!!!) might I ask, if
> > there are skinning materials such as nylon out there,(which I found to be
> > fairly easy to work with), what are the properties and advantages of choosing
> > #10 canvas? Or are there better skinning materials than the two mentioned?
> > Or is this part of the great Vanilla/Chocolate debate?
> > Chris
> >
>
> Just a matter of choice. Personally, I'm going with the canvas (and a
> lashed baidarka in the big picture) for the "natural" effect...no harsh
> toxins involved. Having been a tool & die maker for a couple of decades,
> I've been exposed to PCB's, dioxins and furons from the burning of my heat
> treating oil, and don't even ask about the effects of 1,1,1 trichlorathane
> vapours from the older tapping compounds. In this project, I don't have to
> worry about epoxies, glues, xylene, etc. Mind you, I'm not looking forward
> to stretching the canvas, but I'm looking at it as an acceptable trade-off
> to feeling like an old carp in Hamilton Harbour :)
>
> Regards,
>
> David Baranoski
> Thorold, Ontario
> Canada
>