Wayne Wrote:

: I'm cruising along on my Yost FAP-15 folder. The basic frame is done and
: tonight I hope to complete the coaming. Yost uses 8 oz. Polyester/Hypalon or Neoprene for the skin, and
: I'll be using 8 oz. Nylon (Dyson was out of the poly) and the elastomeric
: roof coating.
: Wayne

Hi Wayne,

The good news is that nylon cloth shrinks with moisture.
The bad news is that nylon cloth shrinks with moisture.

On a non folding SOF, nylon cloth is a great skin material due to it's moisture shrink capability. This creates a tight fitting one piece skin. However, on a folder, it doesn't know when to quit shrinking!

Once the coated nylon skin is removed for folding, over time, there will be just enough shrinkage to prevent the skin from being re-attached. I've read of other builders using nylon skin material successfully on a folder, but my experience with two boats several years ago eventually led to failure as the skin continued to shrink when removed.

Polyester shrinks much less than nylon, and does so only with intense heat. Therefore, it makes an excellent folding skin as it can be removed for folding, but more importantly, reattached during assembly.

Tom