: Thanks for answering. After my experience I am having second
: thoughts on this idea. Not that I am giving up but I having
: concerns about finding a coating that will stand up for a full
: season. Just backing up and looking at the problem with new
: eyes. I am thinking a rubberized coats is the way to go. After
: all that is what the rafts use and it obviously holds up well.
: Looking around and not finding a lot of options and no info on a
: SOF boat use.

: The primary streams I want to paddle has smoother stones than what
: I paddle Saturday. So the chances of actually tearing the skin
: is much less, but you never know what someone will dump in the
: creek. Of course I will be more cautious now too. And I am
: redesigning a couple of things on the boats to remove a place
: that could get caught by a rock.

: I agree bare fabric is not going to hold up well for long, but my
: thinking is if you scrub off the coating and the fabric is still
: intact, you have something to patch and get you down stream and
: then you can repair it. A big hole like I had in any other place
: on the hull would have probably left me stranded.

: I have a piece of 8 oz polyester that I cut too small that I will
: probably use on the canoe frame to start with. It pretty light
: weight but it will allow me to test the frame and see if I am
: happy with it and then I could resking it. I just don't want to
: end up stranded on a creek in the middle of no where.

Jeff,

You're paddling SOF's, need to carry a repair kit. Basically a big zip lock bag with absorbant rags and paper towels and duct tape. Once dry it's amazing how well a duct tape repair will work. Have seen these repairs last an entire season, though I don't recommend that.

Bill H.