: I an in the process of building a stick frame kayak using "Wood and
: Canvas Kayak Building" written by George Putz. I have the frame done
: and have tried to put #12 canvas on. I must have done it wrong. When I put
: the canvas on it was tight but after I put my first coat of oil based
: polyurethane paint on the skin and when it dried it was all wrinkled. I
: probabaly did not strecth it enough. Could I have some how shrunk the
: canvas before I painted to keep it tight.
: I have removed the canvas and would like to know about using nylon. In
: WoodenBoat there was and article on building a baidarka kayak using woven
: nylon cloth and epoxy-urethane sealant. In reading the threads I get
: confused. Can you heat shrink nylon. I bought a yard of flag grade nylon
: and heated it. It shrank but returned to original size after it cooled.
: The book suggests Dacron but I have heard epoxy does not bond good to
: dacron. I would appreciate any help I can get. Thank you/ Ken Moran

Hi Ken

I just skinned my hull with #12 cotton duck and it's on tight so far, but I haven't coated it with anything yet. Most of the guys are using waterbased latex paint to cover the canvas. I will as well, and it has tightened up very well according to all reports. could be the oil based paint that's the problem. ??? I pulled mine fairly tight with the use of canvas pliers, and will wet it out with water to shrink, then start painting after it gets as tight as it's going to. Mike Hanks used something called Snow-Roof I believe, in order to seal the canvas previous to painting.

Mike, Bill Price and a couple of others have gone to the nylon/dacron materials with good results, so I'm sure they will jump in and offer advice.

You are in good hands in this crowd. Good luck!

Rehd