Hi Tom,

Sounds like YKK thinks they are too big to deal with small orders. Here is a lead for another type of waterproof zipper. http://www.drybags.com/home.html
I don't have any connection with this outfit but they are a young company of paddlers and may be receptive to sharing contact and source information for their zips and materials. It is free to ask.

Good luck.

Reg

: I found them (YKK) at $120.00 for 34", and that's unacceptable. Plus,
: they
: wanted me to buy in large volume runs. It's sad when a zipper costs as much
: as all the other materials combined that are used to build a folder. I needed
: about 16ft which would have been over $500.00US.

: Same thing happened when I tried to buy unsupported Urethane for making a
: skin. The minimum order was over $7000.00US from Stevens and Bayer.
: I would need several lifetimes to use it all. Unsupported Urethane is used
: by First Light Kayaks of New Zealand. It's mainly used commercially for
: making medical bladders for IV use and such.

: Do you think that "First Light" would sell me a little of their
: easily
: replaced stocks ? Of course not ! And I had planned to buy one of their
: overpriced boats. Think again.

: Tom