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From: E. Sullivan <sullivaned_at_pop.mts.kpnw.org>
subject: [Paddlewise] Kevlar UV susceptibility
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 09:39:52 -0800
Re: an aside in M. Broze' plastic-boat screed (which all
made very good sense coming from a boatwright)...

Kevlar is more susceptible to UV than fiberglass?

WHY WASN'T I INFORMED?!

I have read a lot about lay-ups and never seen that before.
I might have thought longer and harder about the 100 bucks
per pound of weight saving I paid.

Bon voyage Matt, if you ain't gone yet. Welcome back if you
are.

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From: Kirk Olsen <kolsen_at_imagelan.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kevlar UV susceptibility
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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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_home.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kevlar UV susceptibility
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 20:04:55 -0500
"E. Sullivan" wrote:
> 
> Kevlar is more susceptible to UV than fiberglass?
> 
> WHY WASN'T I INFORMED?!
> 

It's the epoxy in the fiberglass boats that's sensitive. Kevlar 
is also sensitive.  In both cases, the gelcoat protects the 
laminate underneath.  The only Kevlar boats that are at significant
risk are those that are not gelcoat covered, like the ugly, yellowy-
brown canoes from Wehnonah and others.  They do that to save a couple
of pounds and appeal to gearheads that are twenty pounds overweight.

If your kayak has gelcoat you need not worry.  A cockpit cover might
be an idea if you're truly paranoid, since the inside of the kayak
isn't so protected.

Mike
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From: Reeves, Debbie (Debbie) <"Reeves,>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Kevlar UV susceptibility
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 10:44:04 -0500
> ----------
> From: 	Kirk Olsen[SMTP:kolsen_at_imagelan.com]
> 
> 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. 
> 
YeeeeHaaaaa!  Sounds like you are a lot of fun to paddle with Kirk.  Let me
know when you're heading down river so I can give you the right-of-way!

Debs


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