If you go to Qajaq USA's web site, click on the link at the left to "The Masik" online newsletter. If you find the issue with "It's a Qajaq part 2" it gives a rundown of materials including skin and coatings.

Incidentally- I skinned a qajaq with Maligiaq Padilla this past summer, and he said that he doesn't have problems with nylon getting loose when it gets wet, but he has a method of skinning that stretches the skin extremely tightly, and then he irons it vigorously because it locks in the fibers. I would say it doesn't work, except his kayaks don't get loose. I bought polyester for my next kayak. I think it will resist abrasion enough- I'm rarely doing surf landings. You can help a bit by adding rub strips much like they did with the original SOF kayaks in Greenland.

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