Boat Building Forum

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Re: Tie Die SOF
By:Paul G. Jacobson
Date: 4/23/2001, 8:46 pm
In Response To: Tie Die SOF (Max)

: . . .: 6) Apply tie died 100% hemp 9oz canvas with staples( hemp is 30% stronger
: than cotton and eco.)
: 7) finish with Diamond Coat Polyurathane.

I'd go for a more substantial material for the hull -- heavier canvas or a synthetic. You will use several coats of polyurethane to fill the weave of the fabric and make it waterproof, and this may obscure the pattern of the tie dye.

OR, pre cover the inside of the fabric with a couple layers of a waterproofing paint, or Snow Cote elastomeric roofing material, before you attach the fabric to the frame. Then you may be able to get away with a single layer of your polyurethan on the outside of the fabric.

What ever you do, try this on a test swatch of fabric before you commit to using the method on the entire kayak skin.

I'd finish the hull in a solid color -- maybe even plain white -- and use the tie dyed hemp on the deck only. And I would try the boat for a while with no finish on the deck at all.

Klepper has for years ( decades!) used an unfinished deck made from a material that is part cotton and part hemp and claims it is the best stuff out there. When it gets dampened by a wave the fibers in the fabric swell and the material is highly water repellent. but because ther is no finish on it, the fabric can "breathe" and so it is cool in the summer, and does not get clammy and damp in the winter. Check out Klepper's site (www.Klepper.com) for their views on hemp fabrics. The life expectancy of their boat hulls is something to be envied.

good luck with your project.

PGJ

Messages In This Thread

Tie Die SOF
Max -- 4/23/2001, 11:17 am
Re: Tie Die SOF
Paul G. Jacobson -- 4/23/2001, 8:46 pm
Re: Tie Die SOF
Cotton Joe -- 4/23/2001, 3:33 pm
Re: Bending Radius
Mike Scarborough -- 4/23/2001, 12:42 pm
Re: Bending Radius
Cotton Joe -- 4/23/2001, 2:20 pm
Re: Tie Die SOF Resource
Roger Nuffer -- 4/23/2001, 12:37 pm
Re: Tie Die SOF
peter czerpak -- 4/23/2001, 11:26 am
Re: Tie Die SOF
Bill Price -- 4/23/2001, 4:36 pm