: I'm currently paddling on coastal plain blackwater rivers, fresh to
: brackish water. Mostly "fresh"... though, I would not
: want to drink it..

: I think if I were on the sea, I'd probably flood the kayak with
: saltwater a few times in the first months. I think the wood you
: find on the ocean floor has likely been in the water so long it
: is purely waterlogged, that's why it sinks. I don't think that's
: going to happen to your kayak frame unless you leave it tied
: floating to the dock for about 20 years after the skin rots off.
: But use in saltwater is supposed to pickle the wood, so I've
: heard.

: That's a lot of "I think" and not much "I
: know", I know.

: Paul and Mike's suggestions for mildewcides sound good. I am
: thinking of trying the borax thing, or something, but truthfully
: I'm probably too lazy to do it. The most mine will likely get is
: a pool session here and there, but not so much in the summer.
: The only bother I've had with mildew is when it shows through
: the skin in ugly blotches. It doesn't seem to bother me from an
: allergy perspective. And I do tend to see these SOF as
: disposable, especially now, in the learning/testing stage of my
: addiction.

: It did dawn on me the other day though that probably these really
: low volume "flat" SOFs have a much harder time drying
: out due to even less opportunity for air circulation. Another
: "I think"... maybe I need to move the rack more to a
: sunny spot. I live in the woods basically, very humid and damp
: everywhere, surprised they don't rot in one summer, actually so
: I guess it's not too bad.

I'm not all that sure that flooding a SOF with saltwater is all that good of an idea. While it may protect the wood, the salt crystals as the water dries are very abrasive, maybe to a bit tough on the skin.

Bill H.