Figure on a gallon of paint. Usually a gallon costs somewhere between the price of buying two and three individual quart cans, so you will have plenty -- and maybe enough for two boats. If you thin it then more will absorb into the cloth fibers with the first coat. With a gallon of paint you can put on 3 to 4 or more coats now and still have some paint left for touch ups or a recoat at the end of the season.

Putz suggests using oil base paint and applying it to damp canvas. This is a technique I can not understand, as the water in the canvas would keep the oil based paint from being absorbed by the fabric. Maybe that is what he wants.

I'm experimenting with a 12.5 foot canvas covered kayak. I used a water based roofing material called Sno Cote, or Snow Coat. Three coats have done a nice job of coating the canvas. It is white. A gallon cost me jsut under $20, and after doing the hull with three or 4 coats I have about 1/2 gallon left. I applied a small amount of white (oil base) marine enamel over this after it had cured for a few months, and the enamel seems to be holding on well. I'll probably cover the entire hull with the marne enamel. I have a quart, which I think was 10 to 12 dollars, and it should be more than enough for the job.

For the deck I purchased a polyester blend canvas from the local fabric shop. It is designed for awnings, and is already water resistant, UV resistant, and brightly colored. It is not "water Proof" I wanted the deck to be able to breathe a bit and I was hoping I could just staple that on and not have to do any additional finishing to it. It was $4.50 a yard I think, and for the price of 4-1/2 yards I think I'm hardly spending much more than i would have spent on a quart of marine enamel alone, so if leaks too much I'll either paint the inside with a waterproofing material, like the excess roofing material I have, or I'll apply some other form of clear waterproofing agent. then, if all else fails, I can alsway rip it off and use regular canvas and the same materials as on the hull.

hope this helps

Paul G. Jacobson