Nylon

A plastic invented by DuPont in 1938. It can be a solid, sheet or drawn into a thread and woven into yarns and fabrics. Nylon is quite strong but is relatively sensitive to UV degradation unless protected.

Uncoated nylon makes a good skin as it is tough and easy to work with due to a little bit of stretch. My boats were built using nylon bought from G. Dyson, sewn onto the frame while kept constantly cool and wet, then allowed to dry in the sun. Coating was thinned Ducan Top-Cote hypalon sprayed on. The skin has held up well over the last three years, is easy to maintain as a new application (when needed) dissolves the old one for a strong bond, and look good. The skin sewn on using this method has never sagged or been too tight regardless of weather (cold, damp Vancouver winters included)