There has been mention of building skin for folding boats recently. I just posted the below on the "Amateur Folding Boat Builders' Corner" (AFBBC) forum. The process is well established and worked for semi-traditional baidarka builders (see the archives for the baidarka mailing list at http://rtpnet.org/robroy/baidarka/), but I have yet to see it adapted to folding construction. +++ Peter Chopelas used a nylon fabric for the skin of his adaptation of the Retrieval Kayak and coated it with liquid hypalon. This arrangement seems to be standing up well to repeated assembly and disassembly, as well as to folded storage. Also the abrasion resistance is apparently adequate. George Dyson (of fame for his book "Baidarka") used a heavy polyester cloth for his (non-folding) skins on aluminium frames and heat shrunk them to a certain extent. I wonder whether the two concepts could not be combined. Unfortunately construction on the addition to my house has put a hold on this project for me for the time being. Anyone want to give it a try? Any thoughts? +++ By the way, it is possible to receive via email copies of postings on the AFBBC: Send your email address to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will register you, set up a profile and send you an initial password, with which you can then customize said profile to forward emails (only) on topics in which you have an interest. Best regards, Ralph ######################################################### Foldingboats Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside Foldingboats or Foldingboats archives without author's permission Submissions: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To reply to the list, please hit the reply-all button and delete the original author. Subscriptions: [EMAIL PROTECTED] #########################################################
