: Some people have covered their kayak frames with clear vinyl. Wal-Mart sells
: this for under $4 a running yard at almost all their stores. For a 16-foot
: boat that would mean 5 1/3 yards, or about $22. It won't last as long, but
: the clear material is an eyecatcher, you don't need to paint it, and you
: can assemble it with glue, or staple it to the gunwales, so it's fast to
: skin the boat. For the price of a quart of boat paint you could reshin the
: boat with the clear vinyl every year!
: Hope this helps.
: PGJ

I made one like that! And I've also made Yost style kayaks skinned with Coverlight, canvas and nylon. Nylon is by far easier to sew than canvas, is stronger and doesn't rot. The PVC skins - Coverlight and the transparent vinyl go on easiest, since there's no sewing at all, just stapling and gluing. Plus, they don't need any coating whatsoever, so you save a step right there. Minuses are: Only basic color choices, and the fact that it's hard to get wrinkles out while skinning - sometimes it's impossible.

Some great instructional videos for skinning a boat with fabric can be found here: http://www.skinboats.org/skinboats/Instruction_and_Manuals.html

See-thru boats are cool!