: I guess wood has a lot going for it and I'm sure this is another question
: discussed in the past but...

: Plywood seems to be stronger than "natural" wood against direct
: impacts due to the plys, and I guess foam cores have also been used
: (surfboard construction is going thru a phase now since the foam is not
: environmentally friendly) but has anyone used some type of plastic strips
: to strip build a kayak? Most people seem to go on "expeditions"
: with a plastic kayak maybe for greater peace of mind.

: Maybe thick, sort of stiff, rubber instead of wood as a core, with something
: other than epoxy? And is there nothing other than varnish or paint to
: provide uv protection? Polyurethanes are cheaper but sound not as user
: friendly overall. Spreadable, cheap, silicon rubber would be nice. Wood
: looks nice and all but...

Some people use plastic kayaks, ie: polurethane because they are nearly indestructable. They though are heavy and flexible, the later not a good thing. You really don't want a kayak that flexes in all directions it's a terrific waste of energy paddling.

Bill H.