: . . . IMHO, there just isn't the durability for use. It's nice to
: have around for the wow factor, but I would rather paddle something that
: has more durability. . .

I have a couple of inflatables made of vinyl. Plain vinyl, not reinforced with fabric or anything. The larger boat, a Sevylor, is made from 30 mil vinyl, and has been around longer over a decade. It saw hard use from the family, dragging on beaches (sand) and some vacations for two years, and is ready to go again. It got retired when I built the canoe. It replaced a lighterweight vinyl Sevylor (20 mil plastic) which lasted a year. A few punctures from sharp sticks in the low water of the local ponds, and an aggressive squirrel or chipmunk made it uneconomical to patch.

The vinyl fabrics I've seen at Wal-Mart seem to be 30 to 40 mil. Their two heaviest materials are both thicker than the fabric on my most durable Sevylor. In this case I equate thickness with durability, and I would expect 1 to 5 years of life from such a kayak skin. A lot depends on use or, more particularly, abuse.

By the way, I certainly wouldn't expect 5 years of life from a kayak covered in animal hides. The original builders of these boats covered them with skins which rotted in a year or two.

Regardless, the easy availability, low cost (about $25 to $35 to skin a 15 foot kayak), and ease of application (stretch it on, staple in place and go) make clear vinyl a functional material. When it wears out, you still have the frame. If you liked the use you got from the vinyl, use that again. If you want something that lasts longer, well, there are lots of options available!

The larger boat has multiple air chambers, holds 950 pounds, takes a 3 horsepower moter, and has a DIN rating, which, as I understand it, means that it has passed some German durability or seawrthiness standard. It has been poked and dragged quite a bit, and never needed a patch. I keep reminding myself that when the big ship goes down, these are the small boats that are meant to keep you alive out on the big wide water. Maybe I should say I kid myself on that idea. The "real" ifeboats are made of more durable materials.

But this boat was not advertised as something to last the ages. It is a fun, cheap barge for a few summers use. If the bottom rips out, Sevylor can replace it. If the air chambers puncture, they can be patched.

Mind you, a small hole in an inflatable boat causes the air chamber to lose air, which results in a loss of strength and shape of the boat itself, and greater difficulty in paddling it. They are to be avoided for that reason. A similar sized hole in a wood-framed boat covered with vinyl would cause a small leak which could be dealt with by a sponge or bailing pump. Many aluminum canoes have a significant number of small leaks around the rivets, and they are generally dealt with in the same manner. The frame maintains structural shape and strength despite the puncture. It is the same as with any other fabric.

A puncture in a vinyl skin is no more of a problem than one in any other fabric. Hit a sharp object hard enough and you will need to amke a repair. With vinyl, repairs on the water may actually be faster than with other fabrics, as there are readily available patches, made for repairing swimming pools, which can be applied to wet materials--even underwater. With duct tape you would want to wipe the area dry first. Paddling with a buddy (always a good idea) permits such a repair to be made quickly, should it become necessary.

But punctures on open waters are not that common. If you are in water deep enough to roll in, you have a pretty good idea of whether there is construction garbage (old rebar) or downed trees (sharp branches) or rock ledges (sharp rocks) anywhere close to you, and you prudently stay away from such hazards.

There are still a lot of rental places that offer inflatable kayaks made from the same unreinforced vinyl. As rental boats they will take a lot of abuse, but it seems to be economical, or the rental firms would switch to rotomolded poly boats.

If it matters, the next wood frame kayak I'll build will have a clear vinyl skin. The material is already sitting in my den, and I want to get some first hand "playtime" with this material. I'll let you know in a year or two how durable it is

Just a few thoughts on this.

PGJ