Always check the lay-up of the fiber and resin construction to make certain your canoe will be durable. Kevlar canoes are made from a fiber developed by Dupont as a tire cord. Kevlar 49 adds strength both for abrasion and tearing, without weight. It can be punctured, however. Because this fiber is expensive, some companies have experimented with sandwiching layers of fiberglass between two layers of Kevlar to reinforce the hull and reduce the price.
Prices vary depending upon the construction.
Royalex is sandwiched between two layers of vinyl to protect the ABS from ultraviolet light. Canoe companies vacuum wrap the heated material around designs gunwaled with wood or vinyl-covered aluminum. The durability of Royalex canoes make them the most popular for whitewater canoeing. All rights reserved. Down a Lazy River Copyright 1997CyberSports.