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From: Dave Williams <paddler_at_loxinfo.co.th>
subject: [Paddlewise] UV protection
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 15:28:23 +0700
Howdy,

Here's a potentially goofy question:  what would happen if you put suntan
lotion on a plastic kayak?  Would it actually offer some UV protection?  Is
it possible that it could harm the plastic?

Cheers,
Dave

Dave Williams

dave_at_paddleasia.com
http://paddleasia.com

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From: Steven W. Jarvis <sjarvis_at_dicksonstreet.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] UV protection
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 07:54:51 -0600
> Here's a potentially goofy question:  what would happen if you put suntan
> lotion on a plastic kayak?  Would it actually offer some UV protection?  Is
> it possible that it could harm the plastic?
> 
> Dave Williams
> 


Dave,

I'm not sure about plastic kayaks and I'm not a chemist, but I do know that
sunscreen is a BIG NO-NO around flylines, which are also plastic, though not
as big a no-no as bug dope.  I'd drop a quick email to a manufacturer of
plastic boats (Dagger folks are usually really quick to respond) and see
what the official line is. It might also depend on the type of plastic used,
too, as I imagine there are several different formulas in use.

I'd be interested in knowing what you find out.

Cheers,

Steve

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Steven Jarvis
sjarvis_at_dicksonstreet.com
Fayetteville, Arkansas USA
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] UV protection
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 06:50:51 -0800
"Dave Williams" wrote:
> 
> Here's a potentially goofy question:  what would happen if you put suntan
> lotion on a plastic kayak?  Would it actually offer some UV protection?  Is
> it possible that it could harm the plastic?

Doubt the sun tan lotion would hurt it, although my guess would be 303 is the
right stuff.  It might not be easy to obtain in SE Asia.

Anything with a high hydrocarbon content may "soften" the plastic (gas, oil,
diesel), but most sun tan lotions are based on some natural oil such as coconut
oil.  

303 is a water-based emulsion of plasticizer (what leaches out of the plastic
with time) and a UV shielder, IIRC.  They have a Web site: 
http://www.303-products.com/

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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From: Robert C. Cline <rccline_at_swbell.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] UV protection
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 09:42:33 -0600
I'm not a chemist either, but there is a lot of plastic there... it would
take an awful lot of sunscreen to do much damage.

Robert

> From: "Steven W. Jarvis" <sjarvis_at_dicksonstreet.com>
> Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 07:54:51 -0600
> To: paddler_at_loxinfo.co.th, Paddlewise <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] UV protection
> 
> Dave,
> 
> I'm not sure about plastic kayaks and I'm not a chemist, but I do know that
> sunscreen is a BIG NO-NO around flylines, which are also plastic, though not
> as big a no-no as bug dope.  I'd drop a quick email to a manufacturer of
> plastic boats (Dagger folks are usually really quick to respond) and see
> what the official line is. It might also depend on the type of plastic used,
> too, as I imagine there are several different formulas in use.
> 
> I'd be interested in knowing what you find out.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Steve

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From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] UV protection
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 10:05:14 -0500
Dave Williams wrote:
> 
> Here's a potentially goofy question:  what would happen if you put suntan
> lotion on a plastic kayak?  Would it actually offer some UV protection?  Is
> it possible that it could harm the plastic?

Seeing as how that bottle of suntan lotion on your shelf is probably
made of polyethelene, I doubt if what's inside it will hurt your kayak.
A better choice, though, would be 303 protectant, which is designed to
provide UV protection for rubber, fabric, and plastic. It may not be
available in your part of the world, but it should be.

Steve
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From: Michael R Noyes <mnoyes_at_gsinet.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] UV protection
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 13:44:29 -0500
I wrote;
>I think I will work on building a tolerance for bugs.  Either that or always
>bring my nephew the bug magnet along.......

John Fereira wrote:

>
>
> You don't paddle a tandem boat, do you.
>

Nope.  I paddle a Current Designs Caribou, and lust after an Extreme.  I'm pretty
solidly in the one person one boat camp.  The nephew will just have to water-ski
behind me! :-)

Mike

--
    Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are
visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great
blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a
mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your
passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space.
Mark H Hunt


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