> Common manufactory would like use Aluminum pipe rather than steel
> stainless pipe, cost is a big reason. I agree your point, because
> machining Aluminium pipe will easier than steel stainless so much. Could
> you please let me know how to contact with George Dyson? I want to know
> more about Aluminum pipe, though I would not use it to my products. Using
> Fiberglass tubes is good idea, I had ever think use carbon tubes. It's
> very lighter, but it's cost will very high. I'm worry about it's has too
> much flexibility. And, that will make price higher more. To me, as a new
> manufacturer, I do not want to sell higher price products when I just
> appear in the market. I don't think using PVC pipe to build one is a good
> idea, because once PVC pipe be beared, distortion will happen, and it's
> specific gravity is very big.

You might also consider bamboo. Split bamboo was used for years as a premier fly fishing rod material. The best replacement has been carbon fiber, which suggests to me that these materials share some common properties.

You could construct long, strong, hexagonal or octagonal (6-sided or 8-sided) tubes from shorter pieces of split bamboo by staggering the joints. Then wrap the tubes with a layer of glass cloth and resin. The bamboo, which would be very strong by itself, forms a core for the fiberglass. You can make your tubes as big and as strong as you wish by adding more layers of glass cloth -- or carbon fibers if you wish.

PVC is not very strong, but if it distorts it can be easily and cheaply replaced.

I keep losing the e-mail address for George Dyson, but a search on the internet has turned up this information on his company

URL for dyson info: http://yp.infospace.com/info.netctr/Busdetails?QI=19843357&CO=2&QD=yp2ad&BR=4&type=map

There is an e-mail address for a baidarka mailing list, which may work, or you may be able to find George Dyson's e-mail address from a contributor. I have not tried it.

baidarka-request@lists.intelenet.net

Otherwise, the best available information I have is:

Dyson Baidarka & Corporation

431 W. Holly St.

Bellingham WA 98225

telephone: 360 734 9226

fax: 360 671 9736

I hope this helps. Send some pictures as you build your boats. We would be interested in seeing them.

Paul G. Jacobson