> Mike,

> Thanks for your well thought out answers.

> On the coaming, as I am not using epoxy, I guess there might be a problem
> with using plywood. Would there be delamination if I were to use only
> varnish on the bent plywood. I was wondering about 1/8 inch or so.I have
> heard from someone that this is hard to bend into the correct shape,
> though.

> Did you do anything to the canvas before applying the paint? I think I
> have seen somewhere a reference to shrinking the canvas using hot?? water.

> Should I try to double the thickness of the canvas along the keel area? I
> see the Putz kayak has a keel strip. The only canvas I can find is about a
> yard in width, so I have to cover the hull and deck with separate pieces
> and sew along the sheer. Or I could beg my wife to let me practice on her
> machine and sew the two into one wider piece to start. This could be done
> so as to give an inch wide double or even triple thickness along the keel.
> Any comments as to whether this is needed or advisable?

> Kelly

Kelly,

I primed it with the Elast-o-Seal, then put on the Snow-Roof. Nothing before the Elast-o-seal. It might work to use hot water after the skin is on, then dry it with some mild heat.

The Putz does have a keel strip. Greenland kayaks had them too, made of bone, they ran down the stems and onto the keel a ways. The Putz also has rub rails, the skin is tacked or stapled to the gunwales under the rubrails. This eliminates the need to sew the skin.

Mike