: I think it's the tear part of it that is the most worrysome. Every time I
: went across a barnicle covered rock, I never knew it was there and wasn't
: out rock gardening looking for trouble.

Well did it tear, or did you just worry about it tearing?

I read a short blurb in Reader's Digest years ago about a company which moved into a new high-rise building. The outside offices had glass walls from floor to ceiling, and one company honcho, blessed with a corner office, was terrified that the windows would fail and that he would fall out. The building's custodian--a short stocky man of about 200 pounds--arrived to settle the issue. He opened the door to the office, and while the exec and his secretary watched, the custodian ran at full speed toward the far window, and threw himself against it. He bounced off, said a few words about the windows being designed to hold against tornado-force winds, and walked out. According to the secretary the exec had an initial shock, but after that episode settled in comfortably.

When I was a kid everytime you bought a new sofa you could expect a salesman at your door within a week selling vinyl covers for that couch. In retrospect it was an ugly fashion, but the vinyl did hold up to a lot of abuse. and it did protect the upholstery fabric.

Wet vinyl is pretty slippery stuff. You may jsut slide off of some rocks--even sharp ones. Only way to know is to experiment. Next time you see barnacles, try scraping against them and see if your boat tears or just bounces off. Don't do this in a hazardous location, and keep the duct tape handy--just in case.

Just a thought.

PGJ