Roger,

I used #10 14 oz. cotton duck for my first skin kayak, It is significantly stronger than 10 oz. I paid about $7/yd for it at Tacoma Tent and Awning. Wolfgang Brink recomends against 10 oz. canvas because it is not as strong as the heavier canvas.

I am using 9 oz. polyester on my current kayak. It is about as strong as 14 oz canvas, but costs about $5/yd.

Try to find a tent and awning store, as they will carry the heavier fabrics. They may also carry the canvas pliers. I haven't used the pliers, I figure my hands can use a little toughening up. I can get the polyester plenty tight by hand. I just did the hull on one this weekend and it has a nice drum sound to it.

I used Monel staples. The package costs $20 at Ace Hardware. It takes almost half a package for one kayak. Staples are easier than tacks, unless you have 3 or 4 hands, but then there are too many hands in a small area with a hammer swinging.

I may be wrong, but I think Snow Seal is a wax like substance that I used to use to waterproof leather boots. Snow-Roof is an elastomeric latex paint, somewhere between the consistancy of pancake batter and molasses. I asked about tinting Snow-Roof at Evil (Eagle) Hardware (now LOWes quality hardware). They didn't want to try it. I painted my deck with exterior latex over the Snow-Roof to give the deck some color.

I still haven't decided on a coating for this kayak yet. I do like the translucent look of urethane, especially with thinner polyester or nylon. I'm varnishing the plywood version this week (it sure looks better than it did at R2K). After that is done, I'll be coating the polyester with whatever I like best.

Mike

: I went shopping today for canvas and was shocked by the prices. The Mill End
: store wanted $8.99 for 10 oz duck canvas and Jo Ann’s Fabric wants $ 7.99
: for what they call Duck cloth. Its basically looks feels and has the same
: weight as canvas, but…
: Looks like I’ll be heading for an upholstery shop.

: Speaking of which, anyone know about a special tool that helps in stretching
: canvas and where to get one. I’d imagine it would look like a wide pair up
: pliers. Speaking of looking, how about brass staples or brass tacks. I’ll
: try an upholstery shop tomorrow.

: Here’s another tidbit.
: I was reading the back of a Snow Roof can(same stuff as snow seal). Sounds
: like it can be thinned with water. Once I purchase my skin material I’ll
: start running experiments on how thin, thin is. Snow seal straight from
: the can looks pretty thick. I also could find no statement about tinting
: or adding pigment. There’s got to be a way.