: What is PU (polyurethane) glue good for and where would you not use it in
: kayak and paddle building? What would the preferred alternative be when it
: has problems?

Hi Risto -

I've switched to using PU glue for kayak strip-building.

Upside:
1. It's waterproof
2. It will not soften and creep in sunlight the way wood glue will.
3. Because the squeeze out tends to foam up, it's way easier to scrape and sand off the hull or deck than wood glue.

Downside:
1. Requires at least one of the gluing surfaces to be damp to bond properly.
2. Both surfaces need to be firmly clamped for a good glue bond to occur. That's not as critical when edge-gluing strips, but very important in SOF applications where you need strong structural bonds.
3. Can stain fingers, so always where gloves.
4. Good ventilation is recommended.

I've used the Elmer's brand PU glue with good results. It seems to be reasonably priced at Home Despot.

Jim