Ekapi

Nice! Lucky boys!

I doubt that ×most× of the finishes commonly used on skin boats are "designed" to be applied to synthetic fabric.

One thing I can say is that this is more flexible than oil based finishes. Wood arrows will eventually crack a finish if it isn't flexible, and virtually all the oil based paints I've used will show some cracking over time. If it'll stand up to being repeatedly shot into targets at over 100 MPH I suspect it'll do well on the flexible skin of a boat. It is also extremely abrasion resistant...more so than any other oil urethane or waterborne polycrylic I've ever used. Try sanding this stuff....it'll wear out sandpaper like nobody's business, LOL. A major upside is that it is non flammable and NO fumes. It's safe to apply in your living room, if that is what you want to do. I won't be able to get going on any build until mid- Sept., but when I get the cloth I'll do a test panel before I commit to putting it on a boat.

I've been using this stuff for a while now as an arrow finish. It's flexible, crystal clear, rated for exterior use and very, very tough. It can be tinted and colored easily. I am thinking I might try this when I do my next build. It can be useful to have an option such as this if fumes from an oil based finish are a problem for builders. With shipping it runs about $30.00/quart...not bargain basement but for a small skin boat it won't break the bank either. http://www.targetcoatings.com/products/interior-top-coats/em9300-exterior-clear-polycarbonate-urethane.html

I have used Brownell's B50 bowstring material with excellent results for both sewing and lashing.

Thanks Jeff. I suspect it will still be pretty handy for a single paddler owing to its very light weight. Do I read the specs right that max displacement is 400 lbs? Overall boat weight is in the neighborhood of what, 35 to 40 lbs. depending upon materials and build? Yes, I do plan on using a quality ply. I can get 5x5 sheets of BB locally for 32 bucks a sheet which isn't too bad a price. Alternatively, I have a goodly pile of odd sized 6mm Okoume 1088 in my shop which I can double laminate with epoxy to make framing.

I am considering building the Tangerine. I've built several traditional SOF Greenland kayaks, and while alot of fun, they aren't so useful for my needs. I need a light boat that I can fish and camp out of...there are some lakes in my area where access to excellent hunting is by boat and I'd like to use it for that as well. I need the volume to carry gear and game, and I'd like to also use it as an occasional double paddler boat. Has anyone completed one? How mannerly is it with a single paddler and no load? Also, approximately how much ply do I need to complete framing? Thanks in advance.

Very nicely done for an experienced builder, not to mention a beginner!

Kevlar would be crazy expensive in a weight suitable for covering a kayak, and I suspect it would require an epoxy coating, which creates a whole new set of problems as well as expense. It doesn't stretch or shrink, and so would need to be sewn tight right from the start.

If you haven't purchased the redwood yet, I would strongly suggest avoiding it for structural use in a boat. Redwood has a very short and brittle fiber and is quite easy to break. WRC is much stronger and will bend around the curves much easier, as well as providing much better overall strength.