: hi everybody,

: the sof version of this desease is getting worse.

: I understand how to build the frame, & how to make it fold,
: I also understand how to sew the skin, but I can't understand how to achieve
: a though strong tension on that skin.

: on a foldable the skin isn't connected to the frame permanently, & even
: if I will get the tight fit I want, temperature will still affect the
: skin, so it might get loosen or tighten.

: does foldable sof builders compromise on the tension of the skin ?

: on his website Gerald Maroske doesn't give that information.

: http://rtpnet.org/~robroy/baidarka/slideshow/node-o08.html

: http://elwood.gpi.uni-kiel.de/Kayak/

: any help appreciated,

: Erez

You can buy long air bladders like many of the commercial builders use in their folding boats to tighten up the skin after assembled. Folbot company sells their's for about $17-18 I think. You can sew them into your skin design or just sleeve them in tough nylon or cordura cloth and slide them between the frame and skin.

Another way is to have the front and back decks with a large dart sewn in and sets of grommets that allow you to lace a cord back and forth like a giant shoe lace. When you pull it tight you get a very strong tighening effect, but you need some kind of velcroed flap or something to shed water off the decks.

Randy