: Hope this helps.
: PGJ

Paul,

Thanks for the info.. What I'm really looking for is a skin that would be appropriate for a foldable, collapsible, take-apart, (or whatever you want to call) kayak. I read about Tom Yost using PVC skins, including "Coverlight" PVC from Mauritzon Inc. in Chicago, for his folders. Then I read your posting with a link to McMaster-Carr, and when I looked at the sight, the various names of materials began to confuse me.

I think what I'm hearing is this: Marine-grade polyester, despite its name, would not be good for a kayak skin unless additional waterproofing measures are taken to prevent future leakage. PVC reinforced vinyl does not compare with marine-grade polyester because it is essentially vinyl reinforced with vinyl (with no polyester). This may be good for a kayak skin, but not necessarily for a foldable, since the skin of the latter will be subject to different kinds of stress and a polyester content is desirable to minimize stretching.

Now, between vinyl-laminated and vinyl-coated polyester, would it be fair to say that there is a trade-off in that vinyl-laminated polyester will save you some weight (through the laminating process), whereas vinyl-coated polyester will give you better water resistance (through the soaking of vinyl into the weave of the material), assuming both types of polyester are coated on both sides?

Emile