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Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
By:Brian Nystrom
Date: 2/28/2010, 9:55 am
In Response To: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse (Kudzu)

Dyson's 13 oz polyester is extremely tough, but it's also a bear to sew if you're trying to stretch it around curves. It might not be too bad on a canoe, since the curves are gradual and you'll have to seam the ends. Bill Lowe used to coat his kayaks with 2-3 coats of Zar exterior satin oil-based polyurethane, followed by a single coat of Gaco UA-7000 2-part poly on the hull only. Those boats were incredibly tough. At Bill's insistence, I ran one over oyster shells and it didn't even leave a mark.

That said, any 2-part finish will be more durable than using only a 1-part finish. If you don't like the price of the 2-part stuff (it's very expensive), the next best thing is probably Dura-Tuff varnish, but it comes in gloss only. It's more expensive than other 1-part finishes, but cheaper than 2-part finishes. Personally, I just use the Zar and it holds up well. It's relatively inexpensive and it's easy to re-coat when necessary.

Messages In This Thread

Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Kudzu -- 2/27/2010, 8:39 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
kelly t -- 3/5/2010, 12:00 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Bill Hamm -- 3/7/2010, 12:48 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Aaron H -- 3/1/2010, 5:18 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Mike Bielski -- 3/1/2010, 7:45 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Aaron H -- 3/2/2010, 8:39 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Doug Schuetze -- 3/3/2010, 2:06 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Kudzu -- 3/1/2010, 6:56 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Aaron H -- 3/2/2010, 8:37 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Kudzu -- 3/2/2010, 9:01 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Bill Hamm -- 3/4/2010, 12:53 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Brian Nystrom -- 3/2/2010, 8:48 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Aaron H -- 3/2/2010, 12:08 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Mike Bielski -- 3/1/2010, 7:46 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Tim Foley -- 3/1/2010, 1:38 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Phil Nelson -- 2/28/2010, 5:39 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Brian Nystrom -- 3/1/2010, 8:28 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Brian Nystrom -- 2/28/2010, 9:57 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Kudzu -- 2/28/2010, 10:26 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Scott Shurlow -- 3/1/2010, 10:42 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Brian Nystrom -- 3/2/2010, 8:43 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: keel strip
Scott Shurlow -- 3/3/2010, 10:59 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: keel strip
Bill Hamm -- 3/4/2010, 12:47 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Bill Hamm -- 3/1/2010, 12:20 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Bill Hamm -- 3/1/2010, 12:19 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Brian Nystrom -- 2/28/2010, 9:55 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Mike Bielski -- 2/28/2010, 12:07 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Skin choice for high abuse
Dave Gentry -- 2/27/2010, 10:04 pm