Polyester cloth

[Russell Sova]

Has anyone else ever tried to use polyester cloth over a wood hull? Fiberglass doesn't flex at all but polyseter does. I read this suggestion in a fiberglassing book wherein they stated that polyester cloth has proven to be better over wood than fiberglass cloth. The method, they stated, is still referred to as fiberglass even though no fiberglass is used. They explained that fiberglass cloth and not polyester resin was the reason so many older boats delaminated. I've tried this as a fairing method on very difficult radius turns in the hull of the boat I'm now building. I've used it before to good effect. Don't get me wrong, I don't build plastic boats but I've used it and then covered my hull with polyester cloth and epoxy. The cloth is very forgiving and requires no special handling. You can get it at the fabric store in many colors.

[Popeye]

You can get it at the fabric store in many colors

I can see a nice green paisley mix and match working for me, but certainly no white, not after labour day.

[Venchka]

Xynole is a polyester cloth aimed at sheathing boats. I guess it follows that other polyester cloth would work. Of course it won't show the wood underneath for a bright finish like the OTHER cloth.

[NormMessinger]

Cheep-O builders of the kinda airplanes I prefer get their polyester cloth from fabric stores. But they use it as a peel ply to pull off after the epoxy cures. It leaves a textured surface for the next layers of epoxy and removes any blush that might occur. However, some such fabric, it is said, contains coatings that interfere with adhesion of the next layers. I'd be very cautious about using the stuff if my life depended on it or if I had a lot of labor tied up in a nice boat.

[bob goeckel]

i've used "nexus" cloth from flounder bay boat lumber. it's about 2-3 oz. so you may need two layers but as a barrier coat it's great. it feels and looks like a handy wipe. used it on the kayaks and the glued lap canoe for a bottom barrier.

[Keith Wilson]

I've seen a couple of strip canoes made with polyester fabric. One of them had the inside done with a blue and green fish pattern. Kind of odd, but it hadn't fallen apart.

[Russell Sova]

I got a good laugh out of Popeye's response. I needed that. I've used the stuff right out of the fabric store like I said. It comes in various thicknesses and I've yet to experience any failures using it.

[Popeye]

read that "landscape fabric", that black stuff that comes with a random weave, can also work.