Ok, so I'll start this off honestly by saying that I don't know
enough about folboats to even ask this question correctly. What I
want to do is fabricate a skin for a very non-standard hull shape from
a waterproof fabric such as folboat uses. So what is that type of
material called and where do you order it? And then how do you go
about forming it to the hull shape? I assume stretching to shape is
not the answer. Is it a matter of cutting, stitching, and
seam-sealing? I don't have a copy of Ralph Diaz' book....is there
anything in there on making your own fabric hull? Replies from
folks with first hand experience in this sort of fabrication will be
much appreciated. Tom McCloud

There is a book by Wolfgang Brink, about building badarkas, that has a pretty
good description of how you sew the skin on the boat. The title escapes me,
but with a name like his the book shouldn't be hard to find. There are lots of
other books out about building skin on frame boats.
You don't use a waterproof fabric. You sew fabric on and then cover it
with a waterproof coating such as Neoprene.
Fabrics can be stretched to some degree and some fabric can be shrunk with
heat. Concave shape may not be possible.
you might check out guillemot kayaks at this address:
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/Building/Building.html


What I
want to do is fabricate a skin for a very non-standard hull shape from
a waterproof fabric such as folboat uses. So what is that type of
material called and where do you order it? And then how do you go
about forming it to the hull shape? I assume stretching to shape is
not the answer. Is it a matter of cutting, stitching, and
seam-sealing? I don't have a copy of Ralph Diaz' book....is there
anything in there on making your own fabric hull? Replies from
folks with first hand experience in this sort of fabrication will be
much appreciated.

Try this link
http://yostwerks.com/SkinMenu.html

Best wishes
Roy



"Tom McCloud" wrote in message
...
Ok, so I'll start this off honestly by saying that I don't know
enough about folboats to even ask this question correctly. What I
want to do is fabricate a skin for a very non-standard hull shape from
a waterproof fabric such as folboat uses. So what is that type of
material called and where do you order it? And then how do you go
about forming it to the hull shape? I assume stretching to shape is
not the answer. Is it a matter of cutting, stitching, and
seam-sealing? I don't have a copy of Ralph Diaz' book....is there
anything in there on making your own fabric hull? Replies from
folks with first hand experience in this sort of fabrication will be
much appreciated. Tom McCloud

www.gaboats.com for heat shrink dacron over wood frame
you could also try posting your query at rec.boats.building

Tom McCloud ) writes:
Ok, so I'll start this off honestly by saying that I don't know
enough about folboats to even ask this question correctly. What I
want to do is fabricate a skin for a very non-standard hull shape from
a waterproof fabric such as folboat uses. So what is that type of
material called and where do you order it? And then how do you go
about forming it to the hull shape? I assume stretching to shape is
not the answer. Is it a matter of cutting, stitching, and
seam-sealing? I don't have a copy of Ralph Diaz' book....is there
anything in there on making your own fabric hull? Replies from
folks with first hand experience in this sort of fabrication will be
much appreciated. Tom McCloud


--
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William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network
homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm
warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned

Basically I think four types of materials get used : PVC or Hypalon ,
already water proof - you cut it to shape and glue it . Or you can use a
non water proof material and add a coating later . Using material such as
nylon , polyester or canvas . Sew it then coat it .

Tom Yost has a link where he gets his PVC , many folks get their nylon or
polyester from George Dyson in Bellingham , Wa . Not sure just now where
folks get hypalon , but I do know that on some of the links below that I
have seen links to where it can be purchased .


If your hull shape is not to radical you may be able to used Tom Yost
method . See :

http://yostwerks.com/MainMenu.html

The above link also has a link to where Tom orders his materials.


If you want a make a more radical shape then you could sew on a non water
proof skin and later coat it with something to make it water proof , lots
of different material get used from the not so toxic to some rather nasty
stuff - house paint , varnish , gecoflex etc . A couple of the best places
on line to go are :

Qajaq forum

http://www.qajaqusa.org/cgi-bin/Gree...orum_config.pl


Baidrka mailing list

http://www.rtpnet.org/robroy/baidarka/

You might follow the Hendrik Maroske link at the bottom . As I recall
there is a link hidden deep within that site where in Tom Yost shows a
method of covering a rather complicated baidarka stern with material which
is alread water proof .

There are several books out on building Greenland kayaks or Baidarkas . Go
to your favorite online book store and search for Wolfgang Brinck , Mark
Starr , Chris Cunningham or Robert Morris or see :

http://www.rtpnet.org/robroy/baidarka/books.html

You might like this info from a couple of Yost style boat building pages
:

http://home.comcast.net/~marcel.rodriguez/folder.htm

http://groups.msn.com/ThePhillipsFam...rwebpage3.msnw

Maybe this info will be useful for what you seek . Or maybe not .

Oh and btw - no there is not to much in the Diaz book about how to build
your own folder . Tom Yost site it the best I know of for building a
folding kayak . If you merely want a skin on frame kayak then any of the
web sites above or books will have good info . Check out the Qajaq USA
electronic newsletter which may have some good info too . See :

http://www.qajaqusa.org/QUSA/newsletter.html

where you can download current or past issues in Adobe .pdf format .

David

Tom McCloud wrote:

Ok, so I'll start this off honestly by saying that I don't know
enough about folboats to even ask this question correctly. What I
want to do is fabricate a skin for a very non-standard hull shape from
a waterproof fabric such as folboat uses. .... I don't have a copy of
Ralph Diaz' book....is there
anything in there on making your own fabric hull?