I recently 'defrocked' one. The canvas was 10 oz, I think. Lighter: less weight, less cost, easier to stretch. The frame is ready to reskin, but I haven't decided what to use. Probably polyester, but not sure. The original skin was one piece, seriously stretched over haul, (a friend with experience in boats suggested tying weights to canvas to get initial fit). It was 'seamed' at stem, stern, and deck c.l. And pleated on deck at frames every one to two feet. The canvas was held with small copper tacks at seams and pleats at about 1.5" oc. check out:http://www.rockisland.com/~kyak/sbfaq.html and also: http://home.att.net/~jimcoburn/page_2.htm