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keth0601
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Has anyone tried (or thought of trying) to layer fiberglass over a UL Wenonah kevlar hull to make it just a bit tougher? I currently have an old beat up Kevlar Spirit II and I've been thinking that adding a layer of glass over the top of the kevlar would not only prolong the life I'll get out of it, but will also make it a bit tougher/stiffer as well so it might hold up a bit better for some river tripping I intend to do around home.
I'm not a stranger to working with resin and glass/kevlar cloth and it doesn't sound like a particularly difficult job. Also almost feels like this is something that maybe should have been done in the first place (most other kevlar manufacturers seem to put a layer of glass over their kevlar).
Thoughts?
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Banksiana
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Works great (providing the surface is properly prepped)- gets heavy really fast.
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MacCamper
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How much "tougher"? Maybe go with a four oz layup to save some weight yet still provide added durability? I am not so sure that it would create a bulletproof hull for serious boulder dodging in rivers though. If you wish to make the hull super abrasion resistant go with dynel. I have applied this product as an attractive, yet crazy tough, keel guard on my cedar strip solo. Wear and tear eroded two layers of 6 oz glass on my bow and stern over the course of one intense camping season. The single layer of dynel I applied as keel guards the during the off-season has lasted five summers of hard wear with only a bit of additional resin where I dinged out a small chunk while paying attention to fighting a fish and not where the wind pushed me. If you go dynel be sure to do some research and use peel-ply for a smooth finished surface. Dynel is not clear however and should be finished with tinted varnish.
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