: Looking for a good cover/bag for my Waters Dancing "Lightning
: 14'. I modified some ladder racks for the back of my pickup, now
: I want something to keep the bugs and rocks off when I transport
: it.

This should be a very fast and simple sewing project. Make a long floppy duffelbag.

Measure the circumference of the boat at the widest point. If it is under 50 inches your problems are few. For a 14 foot boat buy 16 feet of fabric, a package of grommets (at least 6), a needle and thread. You want to get fabric which is nominally 60 inches wide (58-60) for a wide boat. If your boat is under 40 inches in circumference you can go with narrower fabric--44-45" material. Look at the back of fabric stores for the bins with short bolts and remnants. You can get fabric for under $1 a yard at times.

Fold over 2 inches of fabric at one end, then fold it over again. Put a grommet in the folded area at the center of the fabric. Add grommets about 6 to 9 inches apart working from the center to the outside (selvedge edge) of the fabric, spacing them so the outside grommets are about 5 inches from the edged of the fabric. If the fabric wants to unfold while you are working on the grommets, you can keep it together by using pins, or a desktop stapler. (Pull the staples and pins when you are done.)

With the seam from that folded end showing, fold your cloth lenthwise. There will probably already be a fold in the correct area, as they fold the material to get it on the bolts. use that as a guide. Stitch up the long side, putting your stitches about 1/2 inch inside the very edge of the fabric. Then stitch closed the open end and turn the tube inside-out, so all the seams are on the inside. With the folding and he seam, you should have brougth the last grommets to within 8 inches of each other. Thread a thin cord through the grommets so you can close that end after you slide the bag over your boat. Carry the boat with the open end of the bag to the rear of your vehicle so it doesn't trap air and serve as a sail while you are driving.

If you want to be certain of the fit, before you stitch the bag, use a desktop stapler to make the seams and try sliding the bag over your boat. If it fits, go for using thread, pulling the staples are ou stitch.

It is very fast to sew this on a sewing maching, but even if you do it by hand it should'nt take much over an hour. Stitch a foot or two and stop. then start with a fresh length of thread. This way if a thread breaks it won't unravel more than that section--limiting damage and making repairs faster.

Good luck with your kayak bag. It should be a cheap, useful, durable and fun project.

PGJ