: I saw a while back about someone using hypalon for a frame on skin yak. The
: idea intrigued me so I did a little investigating, the only source I've
: come up with is shipstore.com who estimated I would spend abou $6,000 for
: the fabric (ouch). Maybe not such a good idea after all. I'd still like to
: do some kind of plastic skin on frame, anybody have any ideas where to get
: cost effective (cheap) material and what I should look for?

: Thanks

Get in touch with George Dyson at Dyson Baidarka and Co. in Bellingham Washington USA. He sell materials that you would need for making a synthetic-fabric kayak (or baidarka) skin. This includes the cloth (nylon, polyester, etc.) and the waterproofing liquid, which is either a neoprene rubber, or liquid Hypalon. Last time I got a price list from him a gallon of liquid hypalon was about $50. I believe that should be enough to waterproof a kayak skin.

Ask for some samples of the fabrics. The thickest I have seen was a nylon that was the weight and thickness of the material used in automotive seatbelts. It was not much more expensive than cotton canvas. (times and prices change, though)

You should be able to find a link to baidarka sites through the links on this Board. Many of the boats on these sites were constructed of these, or similar, materials.

McMaster Carr sells a fabric-reinforced pvc sheet material that you might try. They also sell hypalon coated materials. ( expensive) Try www.mcmaster.com and at the search window type the number 3018. This will get you to page 3018 of their catalog, which lists several materials you might consider. the prices on these fabrics are in the $3 to $5 a running foot range for 36 to 62 inch wide materials. That would mean a price of about $60 to $100 for a kayak skin. they have vinyl coated nylons and polyurethane coated nylon. These are avilable in various colors, so you won't have to paint your boat when you are finished. Some are highly resistant to UV light. Go back and forth a few pages in their catalog and you'll find a list showing comparisons between the materials.

Hope this helps.

Paul G. Jacobson