Re: South Florida weather

Posted by Mac on Dec 22, 2004

Fred,

These beauties are only to be considered "wood" in the early phases of construction. Once fiberglass cloth and many loving layers of epoxy are applied, the boats become composits which are stiffer and tougher than any plastic, fiberglass or, I dare say, kevlar kayak. A good UV protectant varnish and wise storage will have your kayak outlasting you. The sun will break down any boat given enough time, and you don't wanna know what happens to plastic yaks on a rack. I live in Canada, and have a nephew with a couple of Wilderness Systems bananas after leaving them on a Grand Caravan in an asphalt parking lot one August afternoon. (He used to get angry when I called these craft Tupperware. Now he gets it.)

I also agree that buying is a short fix - building is a lifelong addiction.

One more thought - put a hole in a fiberglass or Kevlar kayak and price what a repair will cost. Our motto is "You built it - you can fix it."

Have you met Robert N. Pruden yet?

All the best, and Happy Holidays!

In Response to: South Florida weather by FRED on Dec 21, 2004

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