> Hello ev'ryone,

> I am planning to paint my canvas kayak with exterior oil-based paint but I
> have a question or two...I have read several different opinions on what
> kind of paint, how much to thin, whether to use added linseed oil/fillers
> etc...

> I think I will just thin the first coat(s) and then an unthinned final
> coat. I read here recently someone used exterior primer and then a coat of
> varnish to get a very strong finish.. Is it ok to varnish over the paint?
> Will this add a significant amount of protection to the paint?

> The Sea Kayaker article from which I am building says to sew the skin, sew
> on the cockpit rim, and then seal the skin. I am planning on a white oil
> paint and do not want to paint the wood cockpit rim. And if I try to paint
> after the rim is sewn on, there is no way to adequately seal the canvas
> while trying to keep paint off the rim.So, is it ok to first paint the
> skin, then sew on the rim? If I do it in that order, I would think the
> pulling on the skin while sewing the rim on would leave a lot of cracking
> and other damage to the skin...

> Or, should I just use the varnish (regular exterior varnish) on the canvas
> and forget the paint? Another builder who has built the same kayak and
> used varnish only, mailed me that he ended up with two 3" cuts on the
> hull canvas after running over a sharp rock (which he was unaware of doing
> until he began to get 'that sinking feeling'). That did not instill a lot
> of confidence in the varnished canvas.

> Any insights are appreciated.

> Kelly

Kelly,

I did a test of varnish on canvas and was not pleased with it. Check out this link to the post.

Mike