I tested the HBN-coated hull of the VJ on the sharp edges of the rocks at Maligne Lake, located in Jasper National Park, Alberta. The edges of the rocks are too sharp to walk upon without damaging shoes. I deliberately rammed the VJ over some of the rocks that were just below the surface of the water. I found surface scratches upon the HBN layer but none that penetrated to the glass underneath. The kayaks holds were carrying only a few light items: pfd, spare paddle, camera, me and a few other minor things. Total weight including the kayak was probably about 265-lbs. I have added silica to the graphite layer in the past to create a really hard slippery surface. Didn't prevent gouges through the hull but worked wonders for minimizing scratches. I have not tried adding silica to the HBN coating: might do that for the NH S&G. I strongly suspect that a silica/HBN mixture will look good and minimize abrasion damages. I was just thinking that by adding the silica to the HBN and mixing it really well mechanically prior to adding it to epoxy would most likely solve the uniformity problem I spoke of in the last post. Now I gotta try it. I'll be sure to post results once I get that done. Prolly won't do that 'till the fall. I want to get the NH on the water asap and do not plan on messing it up as I have the VJ.

I don't think there is anything that is gonna prevent a hull puncture in a wood/glass hull short of using several layers of Kevlar, inside and out: I'm pretty much living proof of that.

Whoops! I just realized that if I put a layer of gold leaf on the outside of the kayak then I won't use it in the water. I'd hang it on a wall and look at it instead of use it. THAT would work well to prevent hull punctures.

Robert N Pruden