: Thank you and everyone else for the info. I am glad to here you can use water
: based poly. I would never have thought of that. This is my first kayak and
: when you say they are not completely water proof I get worried. how much
: do they leak? Do I need a bildge pump? Is your preference for water based
: poly because of the fumes or are there other advantages.

Urethanes will admit water eventually (as will epoxy) if the boat sits in the water long enough, but I wouldn't worry about it. You'll probably let in more water from the bottom of your feet when you get in. The poly is pretty light so put a few more coats on if you aren't sure. I ended up with 4-5 on my latest. Maybe overkill, but it made me feel better :-) You might want a pump anyway for those rare occasions that you find yourself out of the boat . I like the water based urethanes for their clear color, fast drying, and easy cleanup.

Bill