Kelly,

I painted mine with a 50/50 mix of latex primer and water on the first coat. It didn't fully penetrate the canvas. The canvas still streched quite a bit, even setting it (with black primer) in the hot sun while it dried. It's okay though because it makes the chines sharper, and so the kayak carves sharper turns. The canvas is not as tight as when I put it on but it is not sagging. When I first put it on it was very (drum) tight, I was disappointed when it got slacker, but I'm happy with it now.

Mike

: Hello everyone,

: I need to know just how tight is "tight enough" for the canvas
: skin, and where the line is between "enough" and "too
: tight". Do you all feel it is necessary to 'shrink' the canvas using
: warm water and a sponge, as I have seen recommended?

: Another question regarding the use of latex paint- I have seen several
: recommendations against using latex for canvas, based on the builders'
: feeling that the latex just will not penetrate into the weave of the
: canvas. I was wondering if the latex (it is thinned with water isn't it??)
: could not be thinned to a near-water state and then this might be used to
: shrink the canvas. Would this kill two birds with one stone-shrinking and
: adding the first penetrating coat at the same time?

: Kelly