> Does anyone have aline on the best place to buy cavas to cover
> a kayak? I live on Long Island in new york.

> Also any comments on what WORKS GOOD as a sealent and how to
> aply it would be very help full.

Try the baidarka mailing list or archives. We've had a bunch of good discussions about sealants lately.

The archives are at the link below.

To join, send the following command in email to : subscribe

Or you can send mail to with the following command in the body of your email message: subscribe baidarka

or from another account, besides graymare@sowega.net: subscribe baidarka username@yourserver.com

Here's the official list description:

The purpose of this is list to share information regarding skin/frame watercraft. Initially this list was dedicated to discussing baidarka, the traditional kayaks used by the native people on the northwest coast of North America. This list has been opened up to welcome discussion of any traditionally based skin/frame watercraft, e.g. corracles, greenland style kayaks, and umiaks. Most traffic relates to baidarkas, but discussions of other traditional watercraft is welcome.

Two well-known skin boat authors, Wolfgang Brinck and George Dyson are list members. Wolfgang is an active participant in the list.

For sources, call around to awning shops in your area, ask if they would order for you from Astrup or whoever they buy from. You'll get a cheaper price even with their markup, and won't pay the shipping if they include it with an order. Check out the Astrup website for products. Sorry, I don't have the URL.

Whose plan are you using? I'm seriously thinking of using Nick's stitch-n-glue pattern as a basis for a skin boat, sorta like Julio did, only with steam bent or bent willow ribs rather than the plywood forms. I really like the lines at bow & stern.