Maintaining seal skin kayak

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Leenda
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Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:27 pm

Maintaining seal skin kayak

Post by Leenda »

I'm a newbie and this is strictly a research question for a book I'm writing (fiction!) One of my characters has a real seal skin kayak, but I don't know anything about them. I know skin boats are mostly fabric (or whatever) now but how would you maintain a seal skin boat? How old would it likely be? If there are problems with them, what do they tend to be? (rips, tears, mold, or do they hold up well?)

If anyone can help me or point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it. All I can find on the internet is regarding canvas boats or museum pieces, not working boats.

Thanks - Linda
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Glen Smith
Posts: 3719
Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 9:08 am
Location: Baie-St-Paul, Quebec, Canada

Post by Glen Smith »

Hi Linda, I think the expert to contact would be Harvey Golden. This is his website: http://www.traditionalkayaks.com/ and you will surely get a lot of good info through the forum available at this website: http://www.qajaqusa.org/

As far as I know, they had to keep the dogs from chewing on the skin and when it eventually rotted out, they replaced it with new skin.
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Bryan Hansel
Posts: 678
Joined: Fri May 14, 2004 6:36 pm
Location: Grand Marais, MN
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Post by Bryan Hansel »

The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America by Adney is worthwhile checking out at the library for research. If you live in MN, I can let you in a skin boat. I have one finished and the other one should be finished soon.
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