Cooper Seam Sealing

[CraigR]

Hi All

I've done a write-up on how I sealed the seams on our Cooper (I did this about 3-4 years ago but have only recently started a blog so thought I'd do something with the photos languishing on my hard drive.)
I hope it will be helpful to others, any constructive comments on my 'method' are most welcome.

Read it here: http://sunburntandinneedofashave.blogspot.com/

BTW, it's the same Dubai-based Cooper that comes up on two of the rotated photographs on the Folbot main site.

I also posted this on foldingkayakers.org in case you think the post looks familiar.

[PeteS]

Well done, CraigR! Very helpful article, kudos.

[Ken Hartlein]

Excellent report, Thanks.

[texnomad]

Is this seam sealing just on the cooper? I do not recall needing to do it on the Kodiak,Yukons or Kiawah that I had in the past.

[Ken Hartlein]

I believe his method would work on all the Folbots. All of them I think have a seam where the deck is sewed to the hull, and there is always the opportunity of a tiny leak there around the thread holes. I've never worried about it because I refuse to paddle in any water cooler than about 60 degrees, but I can see if you were on the water for several days at a time in choppy and cold water it could be an annoyance.

[Dickc]

Is this seam sealing just on the cooper? I do not recall needing to do it on the Kodiak,Yukons or Kiawah that I had in the past.

My GII did not need to be seam sealed and I think the Cooper is the only model that requires it. If that's correct I really don't know why. It seems to me that either all boats should require it or no boats. I'm curious as to the reason. Anyone know?

Dickc

[davekru]

DickC,

It might be that only the original Cooper hull material required it ... or maybe the hypalon on the Cooper is lighter weight than on the other Folbots. I sealed mine and the deck is pretty water tight.

[Ken Hartlein]

Good question Dick. I don't know if all the boats require it, but it looks like the procedure would work for any of the boats if you wanted to do it. I've never noticed any leaks on my Yukon. I usually get so much water in it by myself that a little more wouldn't be noticed!

[CraigR]

Hi all

Thanks all for the positive response, I'll probably blog now and then on Folbot stuff.
Off Topic: My latest one is on underwater photography if you're into that sort of thing.

[texnomad]

My new Edisto did not have instructions for seam sealing.

[PeteS]

HA, good one, Tex....