Adding color to your skin on frame boat
We use acid dyes and rare earth pigments to color our skin-on-frame boats. The advantage to acid dye is that it creates vibrant, saturated colors. The disadvantage is that it is not compatible with all cloths, and the colors will fade over time. Lighter colors are more colorfast and darker colors age more roughly. In our opinion, the aging process of darker colors looks great on Greenland kayaks giving a weathered 'authentic' look after a few years, but you might feel differently.
An alternate method of coloring is to use rare earth pigments directly in the polyurethane. Pigment comes in limited colors and is more difficult to apply but the colors are more colorfast. It can be purchased directly from The Skinboat Store, the same place the sells the polyurethane we recommend. See our color video at the bottom of this page for a more detailed discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each system.
The following chart shows the custom color mixes we have for sale in our store. The left side of each swatch shows the color when first applied and coated, and the right side shows the same color after approximately 1000 hours of summer sunlight exposure.
For those wishing to mix their own colors, we have included the recipe of the Jacquard Acid Dyes we use to make these colors. To apply, mix no more than 4 level teaspoons of dye into a boiling mixture of 5 cups water and 2 cups of white vinegar and rapidly paint onto the skin, working from the bottom up with a foam brush. Do not over-apply and immediately wipe off the excess with a dry towel. See full application instructions in our canoe and kayak building courses. We recommend that people building large canoes or double kayaks purchase two dye packs. Do not use on polyester or the "Primo" nylon sold by skinboats.org.
Color mix key: All numbers represent level teaspoons.
Abbreviations of Jacquard Acid Dye Colors: GO= Gold Ochre AG=Aztec gold B=Brown C=Chestnut R=Russet O=Olive S=Spruce ** Russet & Chestnut fade heavily and are recommended for mixing only
Note: The colors below are photographs of the actual color mix on nylon coated with polyurethane, but due to variation in monitor color displays or application technique, we cannot guarantee accuracy. Click to enlarge images
An alternate method of coloring is to use rare earth pigments directly in the polyurethane. Pigment comes in limited colors and is more difficult to apply but the colors are more colorfast. It can be purchased directly from The Skinboat Store, the same place the sells the polyurethane we recommend. See our color video at the bottom of this page for a more detailed discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each system.
The following chart shows the custom color mixes we have for sale in our store. The left side of each swatch shows the color when first applied and coated, and the right side shows the same color after approximately 1000 hours of summer sunlight exposure.
For those wishing to mix their own colors, we have included the recipe of the Jacquard Acid Dyes we use to make these colors. To apply, mix no more than 4 level teaspoons of dye into a boiling mixture of 5 cups water and 2 cups of white vinegar and rapidly paint onto the skin, working from the bottom up with a foam brush. Do not over-apply and immediately wipe off the excess with a dry towel. See full application instructions in our canoe and kayak building courses. We recommend that people building large canoes or double kayaks purchase two dye packs. Do not use on polyester or the "Primo" nylon sold by skinboats.org.
Color mix key: All numbers represent level teaspoons.
Abbreviations of Jacquard Acid Dye Colors: GO= Gold Ochre AG=Aztec gold B=Brown C=Chestnut R=Russet O=Olive S=Spruce ** Russet & Chestnut fade heavily and are recommended for mixing only
Note: The colors below are photographs of the actual color mix on nylon coated with polyurethane, but due to variation in monitor color displays or application technique, we cannot guarantee accuracy. Click to enlarge images
Sunshine
2GO |
Gold Ochre
4GO |
Aztec Gold
4AG |
Buckskin
3AG + 1B |
Coffee (Updated)
2O |
Boot Leather (Updated)
4O |
Brown
4B |
Walnut
3B + 1C |
Chocolate
2B + 2C |
Chestnut **
4C |
Oxblood (Updated)
3B + 1R |
Burgundy
2B + 2R |
Russet **
4R |
Sunset
3AG + 1R |
Sweet Potato
3GO + 1/2R + 1/2B |
Spruce
4S |
