: Is there a "one stop shop" for SOF materials? Here's a
: list of what I know I will need, and am wondering if there is a
: common supplier that might carry all of these things without
: having to go with mulitple internet orders.

: artificial sinue (sp?)
: needles
: fabric
: finish
: stainless steel staples
: dye
: and......everything that I'm forgetting:).

Ummm-- how 'bout plywood or plastic for the frames, and solid wood for the stringers or ribs? Or aluminum tubing?

No one stop shop I know of. No kits on the market, either. Hmm. sounds like a business opportunity. Biggest problem here is that many designs are geared to using the materials available near the designer. There are many substitutions available, though. One of the joys of building your own boat is that you CAN make these substitutions and save lots of money.

For fabric skins and coatings, the closest to a 1-stop-shop I can think of would be Dyson Baidarka and Co. in Bellingham WA, which stays delightfully off of the internet. you can google them to get the phone number and mailing address. Call them, or write a real letter on paper. (If you haven't used stamps in a while, first class postage is 44 cents for the first ounce). If you ask, George Dyson will send you some small swatches of the fabrics he has available, and a price list with costs for fabrics and coatings. Used to be these were free, but I'm sure he'd appreciate it if you sent a few dollars with your request to cover his postage costs. He may have aluminum tubing, and probably can sell you a copy of his book, "Baidarka", which has plans in it for a baidarka and shows off a very modern aluminum-framed job. This is one of the few places I know of which will sell you small quantities of hypalon coating. Neoprene was available when I checked a few years ago.

Artificial Sinew is a nylon flat strand material which you can get from Tandy. Their home base is Fort Worth TX, but if you order by mail order they'll ship from their closest retail stockhouse. Check online for the addresses. There seems to be one or more in every state. I found one 8 miles from my house. If you are not lashing your kayak together then you don't need this. If you are thinking of using it for sewing the skin, you can substitute dental floss, or head to the fabric store for carpet thread or "Button Twist", which are heavy threads. Braided fishing line is another strong thread for sewing the skin. If you are building like Platt Monfort does, the fabric isn't sewn. It is glued to the frame with "Heat 'n' Bond" a fusible fabric adhesive available at fabric stores and Walmarts. You use a clothes iron to attach the fabric, then iron the fabric to heat shrink it.

As for dye. Why? Again, the housewares aisle of the grocery store may have some fabric dyes which are compatible with polyester fabrics. If you go with a really durable coating, like Hypalon, the finish is opaque so dyeing the fabric would be a waste of time. Best use of dye, and probably the only one I'd personally consider, was for the builder who was making a museum-quality reproduction kayak and wanted to use something that would have the color of animal skins. If you don't like the color of the skin, put a paint or enamel on it, or tint the urethane you are coating it with. Much simpler, more durable, less fuss, less cost, less time.

I don't want to stifle anyone's crativity for decoration here, but I really don't understand the fascination for this process. Someone, please, enlighten me on the error(s) of my thinking.

You would proably dye the fabric before cutting it and stretching it over the frame. Trying to *evenly* dye 6 to 12 yards of fabric can be a fussy, messy venture. Take along friends and a 40 foot clothesline when you want to hang this out to dry. There are some paste-like dyes or fabric paints which end up dyeing the fabric. painting these on is as much work as putting on a sealing paint. Again, I wouldn't bother. I'd tint the sealer and do it all in one coat.

Actually, I'm lazier than that. I'd use a precoated skin fabric, such as the Coverlight (r) Tom Yost has used. No dyeing, no painting, no waiting. no spending for paint.

Needles are available at any craft store or fabric store. even most grocry stores have needles int he housewares section. Stainless steel or monel staples should be available at any Home Depot or Lowes. Or you may have to get them online. But if you are sewing the skin on, you don't need staples.

Sorry if this doesn't help as much as you'd hoped.

PGJ