: I've just begun to contemplate building an SOF boat and the skinning is
: to me the most intimidating part. If I were to go with PVC coated Polyester,
: where would I find it? Do you glue it together or stitch it? If uncoated
: polyester I guess the same questions apply, along with What do you coat it
: with?

: Chris

I use 18 oz PVC ( coated both sides with a woven polyester core) from Mauritzon
Inc. at $5.00 yd ( 36" X 61") H-66 vinyl cement is about $10.00 qt.

Mauritzon Inc.
3939 W. Belden Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
800-621-4352

My newer folding skins are glued two piece ( hull and deck), plus small glued
strips over the stem/stern. Another method is to cut panels lengthwise along
the stringers, sew them together, and cover the seams with glued strips of PVC.

The H-66 vinyl cement is thinned with Acetone and the PVC is cleaned and
prepped with MEK. Three coats of the H-66 are applied to both surfaces, allowed
to dry completely, and reactivated with a heat gun before gluing. This process
gives you time to work. ( See Pic)

PVC works well for the removable skin of a folding kayak due to it's
flexibilty during assembly, and resistance to creasing while folded.

For a non-folder, Nylon is my favorite skin due to it's excellent moisture
shrink capabilty. Polyester, though similar, shrinks with heat only, and to
a lesser degree than nylon. It too, makes a nice skin. Both materials can
be sewn as one piece skins. I've used 8oz and 14oz nylon, and 9oz polyester.

Neoprene and Hypalon painted on coatings work well with Nylon and Polyester.
Both coatings are Dupont synthetic rubber products, and produce a durable
surface. Cost for both starts at about $70.00(US) per gallon. ( See LINK for
Neoprene. Click on LINK pic for Hypalon info).

I haven't coated with Urethane so I can't comment on it's use. Urethane is
a popular coating however.

Hypalon Sources:

Gaco Western (US)- http://www.gaco.com/boatrepair/
Ducan (Canada)http://www.ducan.com/products/roll_dek.html

Hypalon is thinned /cleaned with Xylene.

Tom