Whyte, David wrote: > > Frank wrote > > I flexed my VCP hatch while looking at the back (inside) and discovered > > several deep cracks. I was surprised since I thought the deterioration > > wound > > show up first on the exposed outside.. The outside looked good. I now have > > a > > new hatch cover. My oval rear hatch is ok. The boat is eight years old, > > and > > I have been using 303 protectant on the outside of the hatches. Might be > > worth a look as a failure in rough conditions could be serious. > > > > I also have cracks on the inside of the VCP hatches on one of my > kayaks and nothing noticeable on the outside. The kayak is about 5 years old Has anyone asked Valley about this phenomenon? It sounds like possibly a bad batch of material after some change in suppliers. If indeed a replacement cost $100 as some one said (one? a pair?) then that should be addressed. In the meantime, I am wondering if paddlers with fancy VCP hatches might invest in pasties to cover them up when on land. A good choice might be plastic shower caps that have elastic hems. I suggest a better quality than the kind given away free in hotels. Pastel pink or lavender colors are supposed to be quite UV resistant. Ones with lace flowers glued on them are even better as the lace flower petals create a broken series of focal planes that difuse the sun rays rendering them essentially harmless to the VCP hatch material. The hatch cover pasties might work on the water if you beef up the elastic hems to keep them on. As well as being practical, those floral shower caps will tone down the macho-heavy look of Brit boats and gain them wider acceptance. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Jul 26 2000 - 19:19:18 PDT
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