Re: [Paddlewise] Kevlar UV susceptibility

From: Kirk Olsen <kolsen_at_imagelan.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 14:57:29 -0500 (EST)
On Mon, 6 Dec 1999, E. Sullivan wrote:

> Kevlar is more susceptible to UV than fiberglass?

I keep my skin coat kevlar boats in bags.

When I first got my singles canoe I left it uncovered in the parking lot
at work for 1 business day.  At the end of the day you could see the
darkening of the kevlar and lighter bands where the roof rack straps
held it down.

Using a bag to cover skin coat boats is common in the marathon flatwater
canoe racing community.  If you do a web search for boat bags you'll
find a few sites that cater to covers for the olympic community.

I just ordered a lightweight layup canoe this past weekend, I fully intend
to buy a bag to keep the canoe covered.

That said I've got a 20 year old kevlar racing canoe that spent about 
250 days a year, for 15 years, in full sunlight, without a cover.  It was 
used regularly, and enthusiastically.  The boat is still watertight, 
ugly and beat up, but watertight.  For those worried about 
kevlar's fragility, on at least 2 occaisions this canoe collided with a 
rock, or dam, with enough force to toss the bow paddler over the front 
into the water.  The boat has never leaked.  It's had some resin floated 
over the major gouges but has never gotten any new fabric.

kirk
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Received on Mon Dec 06 1999 - 11:51:12 PST

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