Subject: Re: [baidarka] skin materials
From: James Mitchell (redcedar1@mac.com)
Date: Fri Sep 16 2005 - 13:16:07 EDT
My experience with GoreTex is that saltwater gets into the fabric and
clogs the micropore structures with salt. This keeps the fabric from
breathing, and eventually breaks it down.
I agree with Tom. I don't think it is a problem that needs solving.
On Sep 15, 2005, at 11:12 PM, Tom Yost wrote:
> Klepper has used cotton decks for many years. The fibers swell
> when wet and resist leaking . The fact that the deck material
> breathes is emphasized in their literature. A builder in Germany
> recently built a modified version of one of my folders with a
> PVC hull and cotton deck and I recall him stating that it breathed.
> I'm assuming that Klepper still uses this type deck but since
> I don't keep up with the latest developments in the
> commercial folding kayak world, I may not have current
> Klepper information.
>
> However, I have never fully understood the need for a deck that
> breathes. The overwhelming majority of kayaks around today
> are fiberglass, plastic, wood, or SOF's that don't have a deck
> that breathes and I've never heard any complaints about their
> not breathing.
>
> Feathercraft used Nylon Cordora decks for
> several years but no longer does so. The sewn decks had
> a water resistant coating that , in my case anyway, leaked
> a bit after the coating broke down. Today, they use welded
> urethane coated fabrics that are totally watertight, but I don't
> think any breathing takes place. When I use my older coated
> nylon spray skirts, I assume they breath since they certainly
> let water in. As long as you use one of these, you will have
> a deck that breathes. ha! Michael's idea of using a breathing
> material such as Gore-Tex for the spray skirt may well be the
> best compromise solution.
>
> In the case of two side pre-coated PVC there is no sewing as
> gluing creates an extremely strong bond between deck and hull .
> The simplicity of this construction method ( no sewing or coating)
> is my reason for using the material, in addition to it's low cost,
> availability, durability, ease of repair, and the fact that I'm lazy.
>
> I'm not certain that the added cost, complexity of construction,
> and possibility of leaking is justified by any benefits derived
> from a deck that breaths . On the other hand, it's always fun
> to experiment.
>
> Regards,
>
> Tom
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>
James Mitchell
3413-C Spruce Ave.
Bremerton WA 98310 USA
Email: redcedar1@mac.com
Phone: 425-273-0884
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