Subject: Re: [baidarka] Wicker Seat
From: Aaron Hines (psycho.guerilla@gmail.com)
Date: Wed Feb 14 2007 - 08:26:57 EST
Wicker/cane/rattan is wonderfully versatile material, and should make a
fine, lightweight seat so long as its built and woven in such a manner as to
not put too much stress on small areas of the cane/wicker. Usually the
weaving pattern helps spread any loads out over a greater area (This should
help it keep from distorting the ribs of the kayak, too) but the stuff gets
brittle with age as it dries out and only exacerbates any such problem. You
can paint it (acrylic latex "outdoor" paint works well, its what we use in
production on wicker furniture) and will protect it for some time. That is,
unless it is rattan "peel" or the skin portion of the vine - most coatings
will not adhere to the slick surface.
Water will make it pliable, but I don't think it will stretch just being
damp. If you soak it enough to get it that pliable while in the boat,
you've got bigger problems to worry about.
Good luck - I'd love to see pictures of the completed seat!
-- Aaron
On 2/11/07, George Parsons <ghparsons@msn.com> wrote:
>
> Has anyone had any experience putting a wicker seat in a kayak? I had to
> do
> some repairs on some wicker chairs that we have and ordered the minimum
> amount of replacement material on the 'Net. Now I have approximately 350
> ft
> of the 370 ft of 3/16" flat oval material left over.
>
> I am thinking of building a frame of 5/8" dowels lashed (and maybe pegged
> together) and then just weaving the wicker over the frame and lashing it
> to
> the ribs in the kayak I have under construction.
>
> Any thoughts or experiences would be most welcome.
>
> Thanks
>
> George
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