Re: [Paddlewise] NDK layups...

----- Original Message -----
From: Robert C. Cline <rccline_at_swbell.net>
>
> So, how much do you want for your cracked up Explorer?  I've got a Falcon 18
> I'd be willing to trade.
>

<LOL!> Yeah, that's it. "...cracked up Explorer. Listen buddy, I'll give ya $500 for
it. Take it or leave it."

Such a deal. :-)

There's no sign of leaking --- not yet, anyway. Others have convinced me that's
probably unlikely to happen. Still...

>Ever thought about grinding way the gelcoat [gasp! gasp!] and adding a new
>layer of gel?

I've wondered if that would be a good solution. I have no experience with this sort
of thing, and I've never worked with fiberglass.

>Are these cracks along a seam?  Do you see a difference in glass thickness
>on the underside of the hull/crack?

*One* of the cracks stems from (or extends into?) the seam tape. Is this significant,
Robert? I thought that it might be, which is why I mentioned originally that the
cracks are right below the seam. My concern is that these cracks are indicative of
abnormal internal stresses, unrelated to external stresses per se (such as impact
damage), and that they portend future trouble that could be expensive to repair and
possibly even disastrous.

I checked the hull, both inside and outside, in and around the cracked area, and I
don't see anything remarkable; it all looks the same as the surrounding area save for
the cracks on the outside.

I haven't spoken to my dealer yet. I wanted to get some expert feedback from you
folks first, and "get educated." I'm out of my element here. I don't want to go into
my dealer armed only with ignorance, and I don't want to make unreasonable and unfair
demands of them. But, I need to learn what I can reasonably expect to resolve this
problem, and part of that, of course, is learning how serious the problem really is.

The only thing I'm certain of is that these cracks should not have developed absent
abuse, and resale value has been diminished --- quite possibly, significantly.
Arguably, this is the biggest problem.

Regards,

Bruce

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