Mike wrote: >>Yeah, but when my tires quit, they had each been pounded with one quarter the weight of my car for 65,000 km over seven years at 100 kph. They hadn't failed; I just didn't trust the amount of tread left. I think the two or three year life expectancy of hatch covers is pathetic. I can't imagine why they can't get a better material.<< According to some 303 literature I once had, tires that are used last far longer against drying out and checking than those that aren't used (even if both are equally exposed to the sun). If I remember correctly it had something to do with keeping the material that gives it flexibility equally distributed throughout the rubber. That's why spare tires mounted in a sun exposed location usually have a cover on them. Maybe if you used the hatches more and rolled them around with a stick or played Frisbee with them they would stay young longer. Yeah, why haven't the owners been giving them their needed exercise. ;-) Around here (WA) VCP hatches usually have about a 7 year life. I suspect the reason is there is lot less sunshine here than in most places. As for the VCP lid that only lasted a couple of years (and was purchased at a NW store) I suspect it had sat on the shelf for several years of its life and wasn't allowed to exercise. Maybe VCP should put a "purchase by" date on them like food and batteries. I don't know why VCP hatches don't last longer but I suspect it might be that the rubber is actually a foam so the air in it will allow it to float (even with the stainless steel ring around it. (BTW Doug--putting a little bend in the steel ring right next to the white clip attachment will make the clip work again.) A solid rubber cover might last longer but if it ends up at the bottom of the ocean it will still mean I have to keep a good stock of spares on hand in the store, which reminds me, I need to order some more lids as I'm again down to stripping them off complete hatches to supply folks who need one in a hurry. I guess if you want to stay flexible you have to exercise, just like a VCP hatch. Since 303 and Armorall are supposed to feed the rubber (back its lost plasticizers) it would make sense to use these products on both surfaces of the hatch rather than just the one exposed to the sun as several posters seemed to be saying they did (and then writing about the insides cracking. Upon reading of the short life among those who were using 303 I had to wonder if maybe 303 isn't the best thing for a VCP hatch. Anyone out there use 303 on both sides and have a 3 year or less life on a VCP lid? Last year I replaced the lid on a 12 year old Mariner II demo I had. It spent most of its life in the Northwest and indoors in unheated spaces but never did use any protectant on it. Your mileage may vary (but I sure wish I knew why). Instead of complaining about the high price someone should look at this as a business opportunity. Check if the patent has expired and if so look into making a better replacement lid that fits the VCP rims and sell it a lot cheaper (since they don't have to be imported). There does seem to be quite a demand for 7.5" VCP lids right now. The oval ones are just starting to reach the end of there lives so not much demand here yet for those. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** 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 Sat Jul 29 2000 - 19:24:49 PDT
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