Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Re: Skin-on-Frame: SOF disaster?
By:Thomas Duncan
Date: 8/30/2014, 1:00 pm
In Response To: Skin-on-Frame: SOF disaster? (Patrick_North)

Nylon is a hydrophilic fiber, it loves water, and has, like, 300% stretch. You have to sew it on soaking wet, and tighter than a tick. It will still loosen after a couple hours in the water or a week of rainstorms. To some degree, Corey's goop helps "lock" the fibers if you can get it good and tight. Since it shrinks when dry, nylon can crush weak frames. I've never known heat shrinking, ironing, to do a lick of good on nylon.

Polyester is not quite as strong, and it's more difficult to sew, especially in the heavier weights, but it has very little if any stretch, and doesn't loosen in water. On the other hand, you can coat it with pretty much whatever you please.

Messages In This Thread

Skin-on-Frame: SOF disaster?
Patrick_North -- 8/27/2014, 10:37 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: SOF disaster?
Bill Mayberry -- 8/27/2014, 5:53 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: SOF disaster?
Jeff Horton -- 8/28/2014, 7:00 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: SOF disaster?
Patrick_North -- 8/28/2014, 7:52 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: SOF disaster?
Brian Nystrom -- 8/28/2014, 7:39 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: SOF disaster?
Patrick_North -- 8/28/2014, 7:55 am
Next one, try polyester
Jeff Horton -- 8/28/2014, 12:31 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: SOF disaster?
Thomas Duncan -- 8/30/2014, 1:00 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: SOF disaster?
Mike Hanks -- 8/31/2014, 3:53 pm