SOF Canoe Coatings

[Arizona Bay]

Has anyone tried Cetol?
I like the Zar polyurethane amber color, but at over $100/ gal.... not so much

[Art Reinhert]

What are you putting it on, what type of finish do you desire and what are your expectations?

[Arizona Bay]

It's going on to a Chuckanut 15 rec kayak. The skin is 8oz Dacron from Kudzu Craft. I'm debating paint vs. a translucent coating, I really like the 'skin' effect I've seen on some boats, but I'm also on a budget

[Art Reinhert]

I missed that it was a skin on frame canoe, my mistake, stupid mistake.
I'm sorry but I cannot give an informed opinion.
But if you would be so kind to let us know how you like it when you paddle it. I've thought of building one.

Have you built one before or paddled one?

[Arizona Bay]

No worries! I've never been in a kayak before or built sof, but it fits the space and will get me on the water while build something more complicated.

I'll post some pictures and impressions soon, I hope.

[Art Reinhert]

No worries! I've never been in a kayak before or built sof, but it fits the space and will get me on the water while build something more complicated.

I'll post some pictures and impressions soon, I hope.

I like a can do attitude! Will be eager to see you paddling.

[DGentry]

A likely alternative to ZAR, being used on a few skinboats now:
"Parks urethane from the Home Depot, cheap (26 bucks Gal) and a high level of solids so it coats quickly."

Here's one of my Disko Bay kayaks coated with the stuff. Clayton added some oil based stain to the mix, to get the color.


I've been adding a skim coat of PL Premium construction adhesive to the fabric along keel lines, before coating, as a bit of preventative maintenance. Unlike paint or varnish, I've never been able to scrape any of this stuff off of fabric. It works on nylon as well as it does on polyester . . . still needs a coating over it for UV protection, though.

Good luck!
Dave

[Arizona Bay]

That's pretty bad a$$ - Sort of wasp like

I've seen the Parks coating and wondered about it too, good to know it works... didn't occur to me that I could add stain to it, opens some new possibilities! Good thinking on skimming PL on the keel. One of the other SOF designers (forget which) uses narrow strips to double the hard places, think it was originally for aircraft use.

Won't be too long now

[trefor]

this is good and timely info to hear. i'm about to start skinning two chuckanut 12s.

-trevor

[ChrisBen]

Here's another shot of the Nimrod(Geodesic Airolite) you saw in another thread. 16 coats, Behr (Home Depot) varnish, sprayed. 12 years, always garage stored except 2 yrs in a carport, before it started showing signs of wanting refinishing.


I also built the Classic 14 (Geodesic Airolite) and finished that with Interlux Brightside polyurethane. ('Scuse the lousy pics, only ones I have).

[skuthorp]

And thank you too, this thread in my keep file. That's a seriously slinky SOF you have there Mr. Gentry!

[Ben Fuller]

Check in the Forum at QAJAQ USA. While many go for relatively expensive coatings, there is a bucket of experience with all manner of paints, sealers, varnishes.

[Dave Hadfield]

No, I don't think so. The nature of Cetol is that it is gas-permeable, allowing water vapour from the wood to pass through the coating without bubbling it off. I think you want a more waterproof sealant. It also isn't much cheaper than the paint you mention.

I don't know about clear-coats on dacron, other than butyrate or nitrate dope (aircraft stuff, not cheap). But any decent urethane paint would do if you want a solid colour.

I built a Monfort as well, once. Sweet little thing.

Dave

[Arizona Bay]

Thanks Dave, Permeable isn't good for a hull in this case.
I'm leaning toward the tinted urethane sealant, I like the design possibilities.

Pretty boats Chris, thanks for posting the pics. 12 years on the varnish!

Quajaq forums... info overload

[nedL]

OK, so I guess I keep it a bit too simple with $10 a gallon mis-tine oil based porch & deck paint from the local paint store But mine are pretty simple anyway, & 38yrs on the original cotton canvas isn't bad. Thery are also fun to bring back from a handful of broken sticks.


before


& after on the left. 38 yrs on the right.


Another before


and after

[timo4352]

You might try Geocel 2310. It's a clear, kinda rubbery coating. Roofing stuff. I used it a a camoflage nylon skin. Never leaked a drop. About $65 a gallon.