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
Maintaining seal skin kayak
- Glen Smith
- Posts: 3719
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 9:08 am
- Location: Baie-St-Paul, Quebec, Canada
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.
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.
- Bryan Hansel
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- Joined: Fri May 14, 2004 6:36 pm
- Location: Grand Marais, MN
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