SOF Fabric

[wysedav]

I was wondering if anyone had a good source for Ballisitic Nylon for my next SOF boats? I was considering trying an uncoated 1000D Cordura. Has anyone used Cordura before?

Thanks

[Kudzu]

I used a 15 nylon on one of boats. If you don't mine a texture on finished boat it is tough stuff. But I am going to back to 8oz I think. It's heavy enough and saves some weight. But the 15 oz make a tough as nails skin.

And I just found some 'new' polyester. I just got samples of them and they look promising too. But I want to try it on a boat first.

www.kudzucraft.com Nylon and polyester

[wysedav]

No COrdura users?

[Kudzu]

Cordura is just a brand name from DuPont for one of their fabrics. I hadn't thought about it but I have never heard for anyone using it. Is it a coated? If it is I don't think it would be a good choice. I am not 100% it wouldn't work. All I have ever used or heard of is an uncoated fabric so you can apply your own waterproofing to it.

[stumpy]

I used cordura on the first 4 kayaks, loved it, but when I went to buy more they were out of stock, and bought 8.5 oz "texturized" nylon... loks like cotton duck fabric, but makes for a very smooth finish. If I can, I'll go back to cordura net time, but won't mind either one.
Both are fairly water resistant, the cordura may resist abrasion better, but I've had no problems with the texturized, 1500d should give you a boat that can handle a lot of rough treatment, as in rock gardening, and landind on rocky beaches, so I'd say go for it. I recomend water based poly for finishing, with the first two or more coats cut 50/50 with water for penetration/ adhesion, then build the finish full strength. The product I use is Target Coatings #9300, with cross-linker in the last coat for hardness, but you could use 2 part poly as well, I just try to stay away from the nasty chems.

[Kudzu]

Thanks for posting. The only cordura I had seen was the coated fabric that I don't t think would be suitable. I assume what you had was not coated then?

..... bought 8.5 oz "texturized" nylon... loks like cotton duck fabric, but makes for a very smooth finish.

Also found this interesting. I just received samples of some polyester fabrics. One of these looks like cotton and sounds similar to what you described. It's just a little sample but it appears to still have a lot of shrink left in it and I wondering how it would finish. I need to follow up on this and get some prices. Was thinking of trying it on Vardo.

[stumpy]

Yeah, coated nylon won't work for kayaks, since the coating needs to be warm to sew tight, and the nylon needs to be cold. I normally take my boats outside, hose them down, and sew fast, removing the need for further shrinking, which never seems to work for me. I've been lucky to be able to sew them pretty tight, and the wb lpu I use shrinks the skin a bit more, leaving a drum tight kayak. I've only had one boat loosen up to the point of showing wrinkles when it was wet, and that ws the only time I used oil- based poly on the skin. I think I'll re-skin that one next summer, since it doesn't show signs of tightening up.

[wysedav]

Thanks for the replies, I found a place in NJ that sells it at great prices (about $2/yd).

This is what I'm looking at, I need enough for at least 6 kayaks (big family).

CORDURA®

1000 Denier Coated Cordura ® Nylon Fabric, 57 yds
Color: Beige. Uncoated, Pure Finish. 58/60 inches wide.

Price: $ 113.43 / Each

Now I just need to drive a couple hours to NJ and pick it up.


David



Qty in Stock: 1

Maximum order Qty: 1
NOTE: Items are not refundable
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Magna Fabrics
2600 71st Street
North Bergen, NJ 07047
United States
Ph: 201-693-2281
e-mail: info@magnafabrics.com

[Kudzu]

Umm, that says it is coated.....

[stumpy]

If it's coated, stay away from it... just asking for problems, unless they have some UNcoated stock. That's the problem I had with the heavier nylons, I'm about down to where I have to buy more, So I'll be on the search as well, but my supplier is usually reliable, as long as I'm a little flexible... I've been getting around the same price, with shipping from NC, mabe a few dollars more.

[wysedav]

It actually says both, but I think it's uncoated because the coated stuff says " DWR, Durable Water Repellent, Polyurethane Coated", this one doesn't. but it's definitely worth a call @ 20% other prices I found.

[stumpy]

Ok, you'll be able to tell if it's coated the minute you see it, if you're going to pick it up. I always got mine shipped from NC, and had to pay return shipping once, not fun. the kayak in my avatar was done w/ "sand beige' 1000d cordura, and matches the beach sand here almost perfectly, not that I was intending to make a stealth kayak, but it just worked out that way.
Actually, I've never tried sewing a coated skin, and it might be possible, but I think it would be really difficult to get it tight enough to pull out all the wrinkles, and not take on a "sharpei" look when it gets wet, but, if you could do it, it would be an advantage to have the inside coated in the end.

[wysedav]

I talked to the supplier and they said it is uncoated, so I guess I'll give it a try. Hopefully it all works out OK.

Has anyone painted their skin? These kayaks are for my kids so I want them to be able to personalize them. Do I just paint them with latex after some poly? I was thinking about using some white membrane roof paint that Lowes has as a starting point and then painting on that.

Any thoughts?

[stumpy]

How's this? I seal my boats with waterbased marine polycarbonate, so mixing in some liquitex acrylic paint in the early stages of the finish is a natural thing, allowing me to make each boat unique.

[wysedav]

Very nice paint job!!

So the steps are...

1) Seal
2)paint
3) Seal in the paint?