Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin *PIC*
By:T. Yost
Date: 7/15/2011, 8:10 am

: Did anyone ever do this? What are the drawbacks? Should I just go
: with PVC?

I've built 3 non-folding aluminum / ply kayaks. On the one pictured below, I used 3/4" (6061-T6) X .037 wall tubing
which saved several pounds vs .049 wall that I use on folders. The cross sections are 1/2" plywood and the skin is sewn nylon coated with
hypalon. The frame is lashed.

PVC is best used on a folding kayak as the skin can be folded and stored without damage. On a non-folder, sewn nylon or Polyester is a better choice.

This 16 + footer weighs 25lbs. The only disadvantage of aluminum may be the cost vs wood. With no ripping, sanding, or finishing, aluminum
is a viable alternative, and in fact is my favorite method of building an SOF ... but that's just me :)

However, it's hard to beat wood for it's esthetic value. Then again, once skinned, there is little visual difference. Plus, the round aluminum tubes
conform perfectly to the skin.

Have fun,

Tom

Messages In This Thread

Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
vkonreg -- 7/14/2011, 9:07 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
ancient kayaker -- 7/14/2011, 11:03 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Paul Montgomery -- 7/14/2011, 11:50 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Dave Gentry -- 7/14/2011, 11:56 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin *PIC*
T. Yost -- 7/15/2011, 8:10 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Bill Hamm -- 7/16/2011, 1:29 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
T. Yost -- 7/16/2011, 9:44 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Dan Caouette (CSFW) -- 7/18/2011, 10:48 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Bill Hamm -- 7/19/2011, 1:29 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin *PIC*
T. Yost -- 7/19/2011, 9:16 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin *PIC*
T. Yost -- 7/19/2011, 9:49 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Bill Hamm -- 7/19/2011, 4:13 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Dan Caouette (CSFW) -- 7/19/2011, 6:08 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Bill Hamm -- 7/22/2011, 1:54 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Etiennemuller Muller Ireland -- 7/19/2011, 1:24 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin *PIC*
T. Yost -- 7/19/2011, 5:07 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin *PIC*
T. Yost -- 7/19/2011, 5:26 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Dan Caouette (CSFW) -- 7/19/2011, 6:07 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin *PIC*
T. Yost -- 7/19/2011, 7:47 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Etiennemuller Muller Ireland -- 7/20/2011, 6:14 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
T. Yost -- 7/20/2011, 8:34 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
Dan Caouette (CSFW) -- 7/20/2011, 8:08 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Aluminum frame and nylon skin
T. Yost -- 7/20/2011, 8:48 am