: I know this has been discussed and debated ad infinitum, but...I
: NEED to discuss this again. I really would like to know what
: everyone is using to skin their kayaks and why? I know the
: beloved 8 oz nylon is not available so...is the 7 oz nylon
: better than the 8.9 oz primo? Is nylon better than polyester,
: ie. 7 oz/8.9 oz nylon vs 8 oz polyester? Don't think I want to
: use a 12 oz product unless there are definite advantages...we
: are paddlers and rollers and don't do the surf/rock garden
: thing.

: Also, what is everyone using to coat their kayaks and why? Goop vs
: Zar vs Coelan vs Dura-tuff?

: Thanks...don't mean to try everyone's patience.

For what is is worth, here is my opinions and you know what they say about opinions.

I am currently skinning with the Georges 7 oz fabric. I find the weave a little loose compared to the Cory's 8.9 oz fabric. If I try to pull it tight with the stitches I get small pull holes along the seam. I have just finished sewing up another and this time I wet the skin as I sewed and I like the results better. I just tried to stitch it snug and it looks better. When it dried it was taunt and looks good. I still need to shrink it and I think it will be just right. Stills some pull holes but not nearly as bad.

The 8.9 is a tighter weave and a has a nice smooth finish. The one thing I like about it is the tight weave and the that I can sew some wide stitches and pull it tight without a lot of pull holes. What I didn't like was their slow response to my order. May have been a fluke but after a week they called with a question about my order. I was expecting the package and they had not even shipped yet. I heard others had similar complaints, but that may have improved.

I used the 12 oz skin from George and I really liked it. I have it on my 2 year old Curlew and I have been totally impressed. I have beat the boat around the creeks and shallows and not a problem. The finish is not smooth, it has a bit of texture and it adds a noticeable amount of weight. But it is tough. I have run that boat over rocks, tree, tree limbs, stumps, etc. Weave is tight and easy to pull tight over the frame. It will probably be the fabric I use for my fishing canoe I want to build to use on some flowing creeks around here. I am about to reskin the VARDO and with the 12 oz today or tomorrow.

I did one boat with the heavier polyester and like Dave said I loved the shrinking. I sewed it on loose and shrank it tight on the boat. Very nice! I used the heavier fabric for some reason and the weave was EXTREMELY LOOSE. It was very hard to sew without pull holes and took a lot of paint to finish it. It looked good and I took it to the water and it leaked like a sieve. Lots of tiny little holes. Another coat of paint and it was fine. I will not use it again I don't think.

I have some of the 8 oz polyester in my shop and it looks better than the heavier weight I used. The weave is still much looser than nylon, but nothing like the one I used. I have not used it yet but seeing it I wouldn't hesitate to use it. I will let Dave comment on this but I think you should sew it on without trying to pull it tight like nylon. Let the shrinking pull it tight.

As for finish, I have used ZAR on several and no complaints except I don't like the color it leaves over a bare white skin. I have some Dura-tough on order and by next week I will have it on my Long-Shot. I think I am going to become a dealer for it. I can't find it around here and it sure sounds like a good product.