I've seen 8-9oz nylon coated in 2 part Corey Goop (Spirit Line, store.skinboats.com) and nylon coated in Coelan and Dura-Tuff.

The Corey Goop boats are very elastic, and feel rubbery to the touch. As long as the Goop doesn't come off the skin, which is relatively rare provided you mix precisely, it is VERY durable and puncture resistant, great for rocks and challenging situations.

The Coelan coated boats seem to have a thicker coating, that doesn't flex and seem as rubbery as Corey Goop. Coelan is supposed to have 300% elasticity, and it seems to maintain it's integrity.

Consensus on the qajaqusa forum is that Coelan on nylon is one of the best and longest lived skins, but the Coelan is more expensive than other coatings.

In my opinion, skin up cheap with nylon and Dura-Tuff, and if you really like the frame, prepare to replace the skin with nylon and Coelan after a few seasons. If you are cheaper and have more time, do the first skin with nylon and Zar varnish, but you can get a Dura-Tuff coating on in one day, Zar will take a week.

Brian

: How do you think your dacron/fiberglass hybrid compares to the popular 7-8
: oz. fabric and polyurethane skins in durability and longevity?

: By my estimation, the sewn-and-coated skin should be similar in weight,
: around 10-11 oz. per sq. yd., depending on the coating used - this is
: generally regarded as "tough enough" but I can't help but think
: that the hybrid skin gives up some of the flexibility and stretch that
: gives the sewn-and-coated skin its puncture resistance.

: Just wondering...