Gear: UV and Kayaks

August-September 1998

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

 

In preparing material for this issue's feature on UV and learning about the effects on our skin, we began to wonder what the impact of UV on kayaks might be.

To answer this, we contacted Brian Henry of Current Designs in Sidney, British Columbia. He confirmed that UV is a problem for kayaks. "Sunlight will definitely cause kayaks to become more brittle after many years, but they should stay strong for 15 years or more.

"This is what the gelcoat is for," he explained, "to protect the laminate. That's why it's opaque.

"We also use boat waxes and aircraft wax to further protect our kayaks. But it's a good idea to renew the wax periodically. If you want to wax your boat, check out labels for reference to UV inhibitors.

"What goes first are the plastic fitting, the D-rings and nylon webbing. Bungies weaken, webbing gets gray, and Fastex buckles will get brittle.

"Surprisingly, black fittings have a longer lifespan than white nylon fittings, probably because they have better UV inhibitors."

When asked what colour kayak is best for durability in the sun, Brian was quick to answer: "I know it sounds funny, but black is best." He noted that Old Town Canoes conducts tests for aging under artificial UV, as do manufacturers of commercial resins.

As for rotomolded plastic boats, he said that poly is subject to faster breakdown, but the newer plastics are loaded with UV inhibitors and may be as good as glass boats, "but they haven't been around long enough to say for sure."

Brian recommended storing your kayak under cover, and/or on the north side of the house in order to lessen any UV impact.

When quizzed about the release of potential ozone depleting substances, Brian confirmed that acetone used in kayak manufacturing contains styrene which evaporates from the resin and migrates upward to do its damage on our atmosphere.

"It evaporates so fast that it's cold on your skin.

"In the USA (California especially) there are restrictions on styrene content and a number of substitutes are in use. We've tried some of the substitutes but are not yet satisfied with any of them.

"That's why all our acetone is covered and we use vacuum bagging.

"We've been tested by the Workmen's Compensation Board and found well under prescribed limits", he said. "But some companies use an open laminate process and spray, and this would in fact contribute to ozone damage."

As for plastic kayaks, he noted that although there is a slight odour in the manufacturing as the grain of poly are heated to be formed into a kayak, no vaporizing happens, so there's no problem."