KEVLAR v:s FIBERGLASS CLOTH
-
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 2:53 pm
- Location: Port Robinson, Ontario, Canada
KEVLAR v:s FIBERGLASS CLOTH
wondering about the merits of using Kevlar cloth rather than fiberglass cloth on cedar strip canoe to try to save weight..........any thoughts would be appreciated as I am contemplating building another canoe this winter
PADDLES AWAY!
Re: KEVLAR v:s FIBERGLASS CLOTH
Hi Doug
I'm finishing a Kevlar canoe that I started years ago. I started by reading the book by James Moran called Building a Kevlar Canoe.
I used a solo stripper that I was building one Summer, as the mold.
Used heat shrink film as the release between the stripper, and the Kevlar.
It worked great, except the tumblehome was a little hard to duplicate. A gravity thing.
It's been on my back burner for years, and now I'm back at it.
I bought the Kevlar from RAKA. It was 9oz. difficult to wet out, real tough to cut, and not stiff enough for a hull without support of some kind. I'm laminating foam at this point to stiffen the hull. Plan to cover the foam with another layer of S-glass on the inside. This is a totally new thing for me, but exciting ! Keeping my fingers crossed !
It also was a coarse weave compared to E-glass or S-glass.
I'll probably try another hull, as I like the lightness, and durability.
How are you thinking of using Kevlar in your build ? And what weave do you have in mind ?
Jim
I'm finishing a Kevlar canoe that I started years ago. I started by reading the book by James Moran called Building a Kevlar Canoe.
I used a solo stripper that I was building one Summer, as the mold.
Used heat shrink film as the release between the stripper, and the Kevlar.
It worked great, except the tumblehome was a little hard to duplicate. A gravity thing.
It's been on my back burner for years, and now I'm back at it.
I bought the Kevlar from RAKA. It was 9oz. difficult to wet out, real tough to cut, and not stiff enough for a hull without support of some kind. I'm laminating foam at this point to stiffen the hull. Plan to cover the foam with another layer of S-glass on the inside. This is a totally new thing for me, but exciting ! Keeping my fingers crossed !
It also was a coarse weave compared to E-glass or S-glass.
I'll probably try another hull, as I like the lightness, and durability.
How are you thinking of using Kevlar in your build ? And what weave do you have in mind ?
Jim
Last edited by Jim Dodd on Wed Oct 22, 2014 12:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
Re: KEVLAR v:s FIBERGLASS CLOTH
Sorry Doug!
I got a little carried away !
My answer to your question, will you save weight using Kevlar vrs Fiberglass cloth on a cedar strip canoe ?
No, 6oz E-glass or 5oz Kevlar cloth would be so close to the same weight, you would not see a difference. That's if you're covering a wood strip hull.
Jim
I got a little carried away !
My answer to your question, will you save weight using Kevlar vrs Fiberglass cloth on a cedar strip canoe ?
No, 6oz E-glass or 5oz Kevlar cloth would be so close to the same weight, you would not see a difference. That's if you're covering a wood strip hull.
Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
-
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 2:53 pm
- Location: Port Robinson, Ontario, Canada
Re: KEVLAR v:s FIBERGLASS CLOTH
Hello Jim........thanks for the heads up on using Kevlar v:s fiberglass cloth.
I am planning on building another cedar strip canoe this winter and was considering whether to use what I was told was a "lighter and stronger" material than f/g cloth.
I have not sourced a local supplier for that material but just a thought.
Sounds like your project building a hull from the Kevlar cloth was a real challenge for sure.
All the best with your plans to stiffen the hull.
Best regards.
Doug C.
I am planning on building another cedar strip canoe this winter and was considering whether to use what I was told was a "lighter and stronger" material than f/g cloth.
I have not sourced a local supplier for that material but just a thought.
Sounds like your project building a hull from the Kevlar cloth was a real challenge for sure.
All the best with your plans to stiffen the hull.
Best regards.
Doug C.
PADDLES AWAY!
Re: KEVLAR v:s FIBERGLASS CLOTH
Maybe the other point here, is that if you are planning on a cedar strip, kevlar is not clear ..... sort of defeats the whole concept of a wood boat, if it gets hidden beneath kevlar.
Brian
Brian
-
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 2:53 pm
- Location: Port Robinson, Ontario, Canada
Re: KEVLAR v:s FIBERGLASS CLOTH
Thanks for that heads up Brian.......I never even thought about that important feature.
Sounds like I will be sticking with the good old fiberglass cloth that we used on the 3 other canoes that we built.
I might as well cover over the cedar with canvas then and not even worry about being able to see the cedar.............but that's another topic completely different.
I will need to check with the other half of my design team (my wife) before proceeding once we get to that stage.
regards,
Doug C.
Sounds like I will be sticking with the good old fiberglass cloth that we used on the 3 other canoes that we built.
I might as well cover over the cedar with canvas then and not even worry about being able to see the cedar.............but that's another topic completely different.
I will need to check with the other half of my design team (my wife) before proceeding once we get to that stage.
regards,
Doug C.
PADDLES AWAY!