I just finished rebuilding my Greenland skin on frame last week. Last year, I coated the 8 oz. nylon with a solvent based polyurethane. It took 8 hours to dry between coats and you needed a respirator for the fumes. It left a yellow tint to the skin as well. I rebuilt the kayak this spring and coated it with water based poly. It took an hour to dry between coats and had no harmful fumes. Nice white color. It took me just a few days to coat the entire boat. Both keep water out of the boat reasonably well, but I wouldn't say they're completely waterproof. Given the choice, I'd pick the water-based poly everytime. I'm glad I didn't spend the $100 or so on hypalon, b/c I just ended tearing my boat down to make it fit and paddle better after one summer.

Lew Crenshaw

: I have decided to use nylon to cover my kayak frame. My supplier has
: suggested I use hypalon to coat the nylon. I looked up hypalon and find it
: is made by Gaco Western. Their web page recommends the use of a Aliphatic
: urethane (UA-7000). for the kayaks. I get more confused. One of thier
: stories is about a builder that used two coats of satin finish poly
: urethane on a polyester skin first. Another suprise is the cost of this
: UA-7000.

: What is normally used to cover a nylon skin? Could I just use a polyurethane
: paint? Has any one used the hypalon and how did they use it? I would
: appreciate all the help i can get. Thank you/ Ken Moran