Re: [Paddlewise] Cell foam

In a message dated 98-09-22 10:58:41 EDT, wgarden_at_cyberlink.bc.ca writes:

<< 
 Is this foam water resistant or do I have to cover it ??? If I want to
 cover it, what should I use...
 
 My nephew used ducttape for his, but I would like something a tad bit nicer
 if possible...
 What should I use ??? >>

Assuming you used the standard minicell foam, Sylvio, water should not be a
problem.  But since it was easy to carve, it's also fairly easy to wear down,
especially where it's subjected to abrasion --- like the seat pan.  When I
built my foam back support, I covered it with neoprene, rubber side in, nylon
out, so that I could slide in and out with relative ease.  So far --- four
years worth of paddling --- it's in great shape.  For better butt-to-boat
contact, you could use the rubber side out on the seat pan and nylon out on
the back support.  Thigh, hip and knee supports probably don't need anything.
Duct tape is an inexpensive alternative, but it'll be kind of slippery when
it's wet, and you're probably doing this, in part, to make yourself "as one
with the boat", so tape is probably not that great an alternative --- although
you could use the higher priced colored cloth tape --- essentially the same as
duct tape in performance --- for aesthetics!  Come to think of it, tape on hip
supports, where you're not going to worry about sliding, might not be a bad
idea.  

Bottom line, the stuff is great to work with, but will wear down in high-use,
high-stress areas unless it's protected by something.  Neoprene, maybe some
highly abrasion-proof Cordura or something --- but something.

Jack Martin
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