Hey Mike,

I built a baidarka-ish kayak with Skip Snaith up on Orcas Island this summer. Great experience! Skip is currently using the Varathane Diamond finish - and thus my 'yak is coated with it. I'm very happy with the stuff - even though I'm having a few problems. It was rainy the day I started applying my finish. I didn't really have any choice as I was behind schedule. I think the high humidity is why my finish is kind of wanting to peel off when abraided. I'm not sure if this wanting to peel is everywhere on the skin or not. Luckily, the stuff is fairly inexpenisve - non-toxic - and easy to apply. I would definitely use it again. I very much like the translucent clear finish it provides - and the lack of toxicity. Also - the Varathane painted cloth skin is insanely lightweight. If I have this right, the skin on my 16.5' x 22" 'yak weighs 7 lbs. I weighed it before and after - but I'm a littel fuzzy on the detail - I think it went from 28 to 35 lbs.

Skip says that the stuff takes about three weeks to cure all the way when you put it on thick enough to fill the weave. We used the 8oz nylon from George Dyson. I like the idea of supporting George since he did lots of the work upon which our ability to fairly easily build semi-replicas of native Alaskan designs is based - even though it isn't always easy to get ahold of him.

I originally put something like 10 coats of the stuff on and it didn't quite fill the weave. I scarred up the bottom a little in a local river right after I got home. In repairing the scarring (just sanded and painted more Varathane on) I noticed that the finish seems to change properties when it comes up above the weave of the cloth. This could just be me - but it seems stronger.

I've noticed that even when the stuff peals off - the cloth still doesn't leak.

I've experimented with smearing Shoe Goo along the keel. I couldn't get it on as smooth as the Varathane - but it is quite thick - still clear - and seems to wear better than the Varathane alone.

I'm looking forward to building another baidarka style 'yak - and painting the Varathane on in this dry Arizona climate to see if it acts differently.

Thanks for all the effort you put in to posting info for us Mike. I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it to Port Townsend for the Rendezvous - I missed having my boat done by about 4 days.

Cheers,
PC