Jump to content

Reskin/Boat weight


Kudzu

Recommended Posts

I am reskinning my Sling Shot with the new 11.5 oz fabric this week and replacing the stern with the new design while it is apart.  This morning when I started I decided to check the weight and then when it is reskinned to see how much difference the new skin made. While I was at it I weight it's components as I stripped it.

 

This is a 'wet' frame that has been used recently. 

Boat weighted - 33.5 lbs before I did anything.
Rigging - 5 lbs  That includes seat, 2 hatches, back band, all deck lines, painters, bungee's etc.
Painted skin - 3 lb (+/-)   It was very hard to weigh accurately! 

Frame should weigh 25-26 lbs. I didn't weigh it but that includes footrest.

Rigging and skin surprised me. I expected more weight in the skin and less in hardware.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


This is taking longer than expected... but that is almost always the case. So far I am very impressed with this fabric. It is a very tight weave so it is a little hard to sew. I decided to do the double rowed stitch (I don't know if it has a name) so it is a slow process. Sewing through 4 layers of thick tight weave fabric, my fingers are sore! I have played with the method changing it a little to speed up the process. It wouldn't take nearly as long with a lighter fabric.
 
Sore fingers aside, this is the tightest skin I have ever put on and I have not started to shrink it yet. The skin is being pulled tight on the boat with the stitching. with the boat half done, it is all ready drum tight.  I figure all the shrinking will do it remove the small wrinkles I have. I can't see it pulling any tighter than it is.  

 

It's more work but I think this is the way to do a skin. No chance of it stretching out after you shrink it. Plus I like the look of the seam better.
 
Posted Image
 
Posted Image

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The last step or finishing step on the fabric is calendering. As I understand it, the fabric is pressed between two hot rollers and compressed. So I imagine that shrinks it good bit as well as compresses it. So I am going to say it pretty much pre-shrunk.

 

I have played with some scraps on the bench and it shrinks with an iron or my cheap heat gun. Not nearly as much as the either of the 8 oz. polyesters though. I will know more once I get this boat finished and ironed. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, finished and ready to head to the water. Weighted 35 lbs. minus the seat. I used it in another boat so it was AWOL at the weight in. But at most it would add 1/2 lb.  If we assume 35.5 lbs that means the fabric added 2 lbs over the old 8 oz that was on it.

 

I am impressed with the new fabric. It's harder on the fingers and since it has very little stretch, it requires a little more care to sew on but I still wouldn't call it a difficult to work with fabric. It shrinks some but not as much as either of the 8 oz fabrics. As for durability only time will tell. 

 

Photos were taken in my over stuffed shop. I will be glad when I have the Chris Craft finished and can get my floor space back!

 

Posted Image

 

No life lines yet. I like the look without them, but they make grabbing the boat so much easier I will probably add them latter on.

 

Posted Image

 

I have become a big fan of toggles. You can put one end of you paddle under these, spread them out locking the paddle to the deck. With the other end in the water it adds considerable stability for reentry in deep water.

 

Posted Image

 

Recessed front hatch.

 

Posted Image

 

Cockpit minus the seat. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm back in business, following some carpel tunnel and elbow surgury, and finishing the Poca Barta frame at my home in Anacortes, WA.  Just about ready to start the skinning, and will follow up with photos and writeup when finished.  Question: I am afraid my coming ring is a little too stout and will resist bending.  I am considering planing it down a bit.  Just wondering how easy yours was to bend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  Question: I am afraid my coming ring is a little too stout and will resist bending.  I am considering planing it down a bit.  Just wondering how easy yours was to bend.

Mine doesn't bend much if at all, not sure why it would be better if it did.  I don't think it hurts if it bends some, but can't see why it would be beneficial.  How would you plane it down?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was looking at Jeff's boat and noticed a significant "bending" which, I presume, is to assist in the tensioning of the fabric when he removes the clamps that probably held the sides of the coming even further downward.

By planing a little off the top and bottom of the coming it would be easier to bend, or I could just plane off a little of the bottom atl  the front and back to make it a little easier to bend.  I am not sure of what is an appropriate amount of bending or how important it is to tension the fabric.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The bending of mine has a lot to do with my wood choices, or lack of in this case. Your right that the bend does help tension the skin. If you can bend it some and pull the fabric tight when you sew it that should work. My Orange one really needed a new coaming I came to find out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.