[Helen Roberts]

Hi.  We’re looking for a used kevlar or carbon fibre double.  Our trusty old Seaward Gemini is getting too heavy at 90 lbs!

If you have or know of one, please let me know.  Thanks, Helen

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[Helen Roberts]

Thanks very much for your informative reply.  We will certainly keep those comments in mind.

[John Drent]

Kevlar is stronger than regular glass, and more wear resistant. It can manage more flexing without breaking, especially if an epoxy resin is used rather than polyester. It’s a blessing. And a curse. In the quest to save a few pounds, the manufacturer will use less layers of cloth ( and less resin) and count on kevlar’s strength to compensate. But this can result in a kayak with much more flex in the hull ( and the deck). The kevlar can manage the flex, but the gelcoat cannot. I have seen many kevlar kayaks with significant gelcoat cracking and spider cracking. Those cracks eventually compromise the cloth underneath, as well messing up the cosmetic appeal.

Not saying this is always the case. Sometimes a manufacturer will use the same same amount of kevlar layers as he would have in e glass and then you will have a bombproof boat. But it won’t be any lighter. And often enough the manufacturer will mix up e glass and kevlar layers and find a compromise between strength and weight, which could be the best solution. But if you are insistent on the absolute lightest boat you can find ( in carbon or carbon/kevlar ) , be aware there is another side to that story.

[Helen Roberts]

Nimbus has some kevlar doubles advertised at 64 to 85 lbs.  Just wondering why you wouldn’t trust anything lighter than 80/83 lbs?  Thanks.

[John Drent]

Try a Current Designs unity. Advertised at 83 lbs.  However, the Gemini is supposed to weigh 80 lbs., and I wouldn’t trust anything lighter than that in a tandem.

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