Looking for polyester fabric

Submitted byKenSpiegel onMon, 10/12/2020 - 21:35
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Kayak Building

I'd like to protect the keel of the Outer Islander I'm building with perhaps a 4" width of polyester fabric because of its abrasion resistance.  I've tried all the usual glass distributors I can find and they're not carrying it anymore.

Thought I'd ask the global community?  Looking for a way to protect this two year project's bottom from the inevitable scrapes to come once it hits the water.

Thanks all.

Ken Spiegel

KenSpiegel

Tue, 10/13/2020 - 17:06

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Yes, I'm in Florida.  I really would like to get some abrasion protection in place so I'd be willing to pay more to import from somewhere outside the U.S. if its available.  I'm happy that I've been able to keep the weight down on this build and was hoping to find a regular polyester that would dry clear and not add as much weight as the dynel.  I'm not painting the hull, the northern white cedar looks pretty good and the deck has some padauk and poplar.  

Polyester fabrics are generally white and are not likely to wet out clear. Furthermore, there's nothing magically abrasion resistant about lightweight polyester fabrics. If you're only going to put a lightweight fabric on as an abrasion layer, you'd be better off to just add another layer of fiberglass. That will wet out clear and is easily repaired when it becomes damaged. It seems that you're doing a lot of unnecessary digging to find something that's of no real benefit.

I've skinned some SOF boats with polyester fabrics, ranging from 8 to 13 oz./sq. yard. None of them wet out clear when varnish was applied to them.

KenSpiegel

Tue, 10/13/2020 - 21:15

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Thanks.  This is my first strip build, its all learning.  

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Strip Built