Re: [Paddlewise] Spider cracks in my new Romany

----- Original Message -----
From: Matt Broze <matt_at_marinerkayaks.com>


> >
> > M. Lenon <lenonm_at_milwaukee.tec.wi.us> wrote:
> >
> > Last night I found some spider cracks in the gelcoat of my
> > fiberglass NDK Romany
> > Explorer.

> No, not unless they have taken a hard blow or a sustained deforming pressure
> on the side of the laminate opposite of the gelcoat. Did you jamb or wedge
> any "one last thing" into the hatch that might have pushed out against that
> area?

Nope. The boat has never been loaded with much of anything, save for the odd pair of
running shoes and a towel, and occasionally some snacks. It's been paddled empty,
essentially, for all of it's brief and easy life.

> Are you sure they are really cracks? Any chance that it has been there since
> the kayak was new and you hadn't noticed it until they got dirty?

Ahhh... Hope springs eternal in the human breast. I leaped from my chair on reading
this, Matt, and ran to the garage to check! No joy. :-(

It looks cracked, for real.

> >
> > Should I be concerned?
>
> No, don't worry, be happy!

Even if they really *are* cracks?

I'm struggling with both of those at the moment. I don't know that I can ever be
happy about this just because of the doubts it raises. Not only in *my* mind, but the
minds of potential buyers should I someday decide to sell this boat. I wouldn't buy
this boat used, unless the owner offered a massive discount off the fair market
value. A local NDK dealer who was closing his business not long ago had an Explorer
on his floor that had even bigger cracks running along the rear deck, as I recall.
Nobody, including me, wanted to buy that one either. He eventually sold it, but I
wonder what kind of sacrifice he had to make to unload it.

Quite apart from whether there is actually any durability problem, and ignoring the
aesthetic issues, I believe the resale value has been seriously diminished. I think
most folks would take a look at these cracks, and move along to the next boat,
preferring not to take any chances. Who could blame them? And buyers *would* see it,
because I'd make a point of showing it to them. I'd never try to hide something I
thought might be a potential problem.

I guess it's time to take it up with Rutabaga.

I appreciate your help, Matt. Thanks.

Regards,

Bruce


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