Subject: Re: [baidarka] keel flex
From: Peter Chopelas (pac@premier1.net)
Date: Mon Feb 23 2004 - 15:10:56 EST
Wolf wrote:
> It would be interesting to know what the properties of a fresh skin
> are. The skins on boats in museums are rather hard and stiff after
> years in a dry environment and more closely resemble a fiberglass
> hull than the synthetic skins that people are putting on their boats.
> Animal skins could also be fairly thick, in many cases thicker than
> synthetics.
If you can view a copy of the Flauterly film "Nanook of the North" there is
one short sequence where Nanook and his wife are covering a kayak frame with
animal skin. The skin was so soft and stretchy it reminded me of something
close to a rubber balloon skin (the children's toy type). I can not imagine
it adds very much to stiffness, other than perhaps assisting in holding all
the frame members together. I also suspect that keeping it oiled would keep
it soft (unlike the 100+ year old museum pieces). In Dyson's book there are
some photos of Aleut natives removing the skins for the winter, and these
skins look quite soft and supple in the still photos as well.
Peter
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