square_nails

Right Jeff I see what you mean. Taking into account the residue that might be left behind which could hinder a more permanent repair later. Ok, great , I will have to ponder this some more.

OK, thanks for that report Garth, I'm looking forward to building the Shad. Regards, Bruce

Bcone is "shoe goo" like a repair glue for wellies and do you pick it up at the cobblers?

Ok, well that sounds simple enough. I guess the duct tape will stand up to the water then. Thanks again. Bruce

I just got finished watching the video where Jeff beats on the skin to show it's resistance to damage. The thing that I liked was that even after putting a hole in the fabric (with much effort) that it did not want to tear or get any larger even when Jeff was trying to coax it. So in a situation where one was to put a hole in their kayak while away on a trip, after patching the hole you could have confidence that it will not open up and get any worse which would be a great stress relief and let you continue to enjoy the remainder of the trip. What would someone use to patch and seal a polyester skin while away from home? Maybe a small patch of polyester and some epoxy that comes in the two part tubes from the hardware store?

OK thanks Matt S

Bcone 1381, thanks for your personal testimony of the Spirit Line coating. Where I live there are lots of rocky beaches and shell fish to contend with. and no matter what product I use there will have to be techniques developed for beaching in these areas no matter what the finish. For example, disembarking in 2ft of water and wading in while pulling the kayak behind and even unloading in shallow water then carrying the Kayak out. Although there are also many sandy beaches which will be the first choice when planning a local trip. This weekend I am moving so the day for ordering plans is "nigh at hand", I'm getting a little excited about the project and while the money is available for the kayak materials I have yet to save for the building platform and workbench but while saving for these items I will also be looking for used materials or salvaged materials to bring the cost down. Thanks everyone for your advice and experience you have shared. Bruce

Good point on the scratches. I'll look at that Dura Tuff and see how I feel about it, thanks Jeff.

Matt how long have you been using the bags and have you had any problems with leaking. I might consider spending a little extra for these in the end.

I was discussing floatation with another member JED. We have talked about these as well and I thought that securing a net material to the frames would keep them in their place. I have also looked at these pool balls which would fill the entire area but the minimum order would require no less than four people to justify the cost, Pool Balls.

OK thanks Jeff, I have been reading up on different materials trying to map out a game plan for my build. I want to have everything laid out before I start (funny I haven't even bought the plans yet and I'm already thinking on how I'm going to finish the boat). I really like the translucent look on a hull so I haven't been looking at paints. It seems that particular goop has a lot of history and is highly rated but as you say difficult to apply. There are some testimonies on the Wooden Boat Forum regarding this product which is an interesting read from others who have tried different coatings. Here is the link.

I was wondering if the 2 part urethane that Spirit Line sells would work with polyester or if there is another product that would give a gloss finish with UV protection.

OK thanks Jeff. I am moving on the first of next month and will be ordering the plans for Shad once I'm settled into the new place.

Thank you for the reply Jeff. Yes I also was hoping that I could get a few more reports from other owner/builders but I do like the looks and tracking will be important to me when crossing the straights to the Islands. I will primarily be doing day trips for the first few seasons and Will not be carrying too much gear. Maybe a lunch and various refreshments along with snacks and safety gear along with a change of cloths in case I'm wet and cold., so I'm hoping that will all fit inside. If in the long term I find I need more room well then that can be solved by building another kayak, haha!

Hello all, I am new to the forum and have been reading up for the last while on all of Kudzu Craft designs. I am just about ready to purchase plans for my first kayak build and have zeroed in on the Shad. I am living on Vancouver Island and plan on doing local day and weekend trips (eventually) around the many Islands out here. I am just curious as to the turning ability of the Shad and how much if any rocker is built into the hull. Hopefully someone that paddles a Shad can shed some light on my choice of kayak for the location and type of water I will be paddling in. Bruce

Hello everyone, I am curious and was wondering about the pinholes left behind after coating the polyester fabric if it was possibly caused by surface tension from the fibers having a residue from manufacturing and if so the idea of washing the fabric beforehand allowing the sealer of choice to flow better and fill said pinholes? Just a thought.