diff --git a/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.cxx b/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.cxx
index c60650a8..d5dd4afd 100644
--- a/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.cxx
+++ b/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.cxx
@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ static const uint32_t EndianMagic = 0x11223344;
  * gzContainerWriter
  **************************************************************************/
 
-gzContainerWriter::gzContainerWriter(const std::string& name,
+gzContainerWriter::gzContainerWriter(const SGPath& name,
                                      const std::string& fileMagic) :
         sg_gzofstream(name, ios_out | ios_binary),
-        filename(name)
+        filename(name.utf8Str())
 {
     /* write byte-order marker **************************************/
     write((char*)&EndianMagic, sizeof(EndianMagic));
@@ -138,10 +138,10 @@ gzContainerWriter::writeContainer(ContainerType Type, SGPropertyNode* root)
  * gzContainerReader
  **************************************************************************/
 
-gzContainerReader::gzContainerReader(const std::string& name,
+gzContainerReader::gzContainerReader(const SGPath& name,
                                      const std::string& fileMagic) :
         sg_gzifstream(SGPath(name), ios_in | ios_binary),
-        filename(name)
+        filename(name.utf8Str())
 {
     bool ok = (good() && !eof());
 
diff --git a/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.hxx b/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.hxx
index 79c5563a..40af7a13 100644
--- a/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.hxx
+++ b/simgear/io/iostreams/gzcontainerfile.hxx
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ typedef int ContainerType;
 class gzContainerReader : public sg_gzifstream
 {
 public:
-    gzContainerReader( const std::string& name,
+    gzContainerReader( const SGPath& name,
                        const std::string& fileMagic);
 
     bool readContainerHeader(ContainerType* pType, size_t* pSize);
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ private:
 class gzContainerWriter : public sg_gzofstream
 {
 public:
-    gzContainerWriter( const std::string& name,
+    gzContainerWriter( const SGPath& name,
                        const std::string& fileMagic);
 
     bool writeContainerHeader(ContainerType Type, size_t Size);
diff --git a/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.cxx b/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.cxx
index 103f7e4e..08649e1e 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.cxx
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ SGMakeState(const SGPath &path, const char* colorTexture,
 }
 
 // Constructor
-SGCloudLayer::SGCloudLayer( const string &tex_path ) :
+SGCloudLayer::SGCloudLayer( const SGPath &tex_path ) :
     cloud_root(new osg::Switch),
     layer_root(new osg::Switch),
     group_top(new osg::Group),
diff --git a/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.hxx b/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.hxx
index fb4cf3c5..65b525fa 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.hxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/sky/cloud.hxx
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include <osg/Switch>
 
 class SGCloudField;
+class SGPath;
 
 /**
  * A class layer to model a single cloud layer
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ public:
      * Constructor
      * @param tex_path the path to the set of cloud textures
      */
-    SGCloudLayer( const std::string &tex_path );
+    SGCloudLayer( const SGPath &tex_path );
 
     /**
      * Destructor
diff --git a/simgear/scene/sky/sky.cxx b/simgear/scene/sky/sky.cxx
index 25df35d7..796b1522 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/sky/sky.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/sky/sky.cxx
@@ -296,8 +296,9 @@ void SGSky::set_3dCloudUseImpostors(bool imp)
     SGCloudField::setUseImpostors(imp);
 }
 
-void SGSky::texture_path( const std::string& path ) {
-	tex_path = SGPath( path );
+void SGSky::set_texture_path( const SGPath& path ) 
+{
+	tex_path = path;
 }
 
 // modify the current visibility based on cloud layers, thickness,
diff --git a/simgear/scene/sky/sky.hxx b/simgear/scene/sky/sky.hxx
index a824b74a..a07d9d0c 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/sky/sky.hxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/sky/sky.hxx
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ public:
      *
      * @param path Base path to texture locations
      */
-    void texture_path( const std::string& path );
+    void set_texture_path( const SGPath& path );
 
     /**
      * Get the current sun color