Gordon, all, Keith is correct. Resilient compression frames with hearty skins. I regularly drop my SOF for classes to demo their toughness. I do not baby my kayaks. I use 16 oz polyester for most of my boats and it stands up over time. I have run them up some pretty stony beaches, and done more than several surf endos in 'em. Remember that the skin gives on impact... Others use as light as 8 oz nylon. Few difficulties. I currently have a SOF with aircraft weight dacron on it that I am trying to wear out with little success. Kudos to Ms Pivovar ;-) Bulkheads need not be rigid. My friend Pavia Lumholdt has out together a how to page to set up sewn bulkheads in a SOF. He is past president of Qajaq Nuuk. http://www.paavia.dk/Bulkhead.htm I prefer custom made float bags sized to the volume of boat. Easy to make and repair. More flexibility in compartment access and storage. SOF are also fairly easy to repair if you do puncture or shred, from patch to new skin... If you want to go canvas, they are also biodegradable... Can you damage them? Sure. You can damage anything if you are careless/reckless/unlucky enough. You'd be wise not to aggravate a walrus ;-) On Apr 5, 2007, at 7:24 AM, kattenbo_at_comcast.net wrote: > Short answer is "pretty well" > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: Gordin Warner <gwarner2_at_shaw.ca> >> Just how tough are SOF kayaks? >> >> How well would they stand up to an emergency landing on a dumping >> surf beach? >> Could they survive more then one dumping surf landing? >> >> What's the best skin to use if you want to paddle a SOF in the >> rock gardens? >> >> Can you build a SOF with water proof forward and aft compartments >> as Doug >> seems to imply he'd like to do? >> >> Would not ridgid bulkheads thwart the whole flexible aspects of a >> SOF? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Apr 06 2007 - 04:54:07 PDT
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