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What exactly is the benefit to using dynel? I bought a bunch of it and am preparing to put skid plates on my brand new tuff stuff canoe. Or I could buy some pre-cut kevlar felt skids for $49 CA.
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Dynel...
- Thread starter Paddlinhal
- Start date
It's thinner and lighter than Kevlar felt. It's easier to blend into the hull so most think it's aesthetically more pleasing. It's very hard wearing. I've been very happy with it. I've never used Kevlar felt so can't make a direct comparison.
Dynel is ugly as heck if it's not painted.
Alan
Dynel is ugly as heck if it's not painted.
Alan
- Dynel is much more abrasion resistant
- If you use Release Fabric you can compress Dynel more than kevlar felt
- probably uses less epoxy (less money / less weight)
- looks better
- less noisy (less chance of annoying gurgles)
I find it easier to work with and wet out than the felt. When you cut the Dynel make sure to do it on the bias, this will reduce stray threads
The pre-cut kits are ok but you get a piece that is made to be the proper size for the "average" canoe, I've put skids on a number of boats, the width/length that I used was somewhat different on each one (sharp or rounded ends?, no rocker, some rocker, a lot of rocker?, whitewater or flatwater?)
Personally I would not install skids on a new boats, I would wait for a while to see where the scratches start to show where the critical spots are.
- If you use Release Fabric you can compress Dynel more than kevlar felt
- probably uses less epoxy (less money / less weight)
- looks better
- less noisy (less chance of annoying gurgles)
I find it easier to work with and wet out than the felt. When you cut the Dynel make sure to do it on the bias, this will reduce stray threads
The pre-cut kits are ok but you get a piece that is made to be the proper size for the "average" canoe, I've put skids on a number of boats, the width/length that I used was somewhat different on each one (sharp or rounded ends?, no rocker, some rocker, a lot of rocker?, whitewater or flatwater?)
Personally I would not install skids on a new boats, I would wait for a while to see where the scratches start to show where the critical spots are.
In terms of "ugliness" my boats look better with raw Dynel than with raw Kevlar felt but either of them are the best looking part of most of my hulls
My choice for skid plates has turned to 100% Polyester fleece ( sweat shirt material )
It adds thickness, and is more resistant than fiberglass for wear.
I can find it in colors, so far I've used black for a carbon look, and yellow for a Kevlar look.
Oh, you can sand it to feather it into a hull, unlike Kevlar felt.
It adds thickness, and is more resistant than fiberglass for wear.
I can find it in colors, so far I've used black for a carbon look, and yellow for a Kevlar look.
Oh, you can sand it to feather it into a hull, unlike Kevlar felt.
That's the first I've heard of that. How thick is it? Does it conform easily with the curves?
As far as thickness, similar to kevlar felt.
I bought mine at a fabric store years ago. A Hobby Lobby, if my memory serves me correctly.
It conforms very well.
I used it on my Carbon fiber/Kevlar hulls. I even laid in a layer, on the inside, of the stems, in case I had a sever wear issue.
I bought mine at a fabric store years ago. A Hobby Lobby, if my memory serves me correctly.
It conforms very well.
I used it on my Carbon fiber/Kevlar hulls. I even laid in a layer, on the inside, of the stems, in case I had a sever wear issue.
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