Re: [Paddlewise] VCP Hatch Deterioration

BOOjum posted:

<<<ralph diaz writes:
 Perhaps this discussion is being unfair.  After all, it may be
expecting
 to much of our British friends. <snip> the car was a lovable but high
maintenance lemon!
  Maybe that is the price of owning a Brit boat or other product.>>>

<<Watch closely as Ralph demonstrates the North American Kayakers
Trolling technique ;}  See the bait thrown into the water, its a good
line - perhaps a little strong, but you need a strong line to bring up
the elusive flaming brit fish. Now, stand back quietly and see if
there's a bite..>>

Naw, Ralph has a point...even my friend's expensive Jag has a spot o'
petroleum dripping from under the engine. As far as hatches, I've only
ever had one go on me, and that was the year I had three shoulder
surgeries to both shoulders, and was out of action for some time (the
first acromioplasty failed, so I had to go to open surgeries with a
longer healing time). The kayak was stored in a hot barn, suspended high
aloft. Hatches were left in place, so it is weird that only one
deteriorated. It turned "chalky" and "crumbly" over the entire inside
and outside surface. I added an oval hatch a few years back (4 years or
so) and it has a bit of cracking around the inside lip edge. The one
original 7-inch hatch is still going strong!!! Rule Britannia, Britannia
rules the waves -- well, they used to.  I Armorall twice a year (Fall
and Spring) and twice in the summer on just the inside. Bear in mind, I
use my kayak a fair bit, and the hatches are on and off a lot. I also
"sealed" the inside of my compartments with a light coat of white
Monopoxy paint (I've thought of everything -- you have to with a
troublesome  piece of  British machinery).

Regarding entry time vs the Caribou hatch system, I can access gear in
two seconds! One second if its a contest. I vote the Caribou off the
island -- sorry Mark. In all seriousness, it is a great system, but do
be aware that CD kayaks generally, do suffer seal problems from time to
time -- that being empirically evidenced here on my coast where a number
of them are made. The hatches are great -- it's just the seal. Do comply
with your excellent owner's manual, and do remember in general, webbing
stretches when it gets wet.

The local VCP dealer recommends hatches be removed during storage, and
that they be kept indoors. He indicated to me that the newest VCP units
use a better rubber, and should last 10 years plus. No, warnings are not
given suggesting replacement necessity within that ten year period. Do
NA kayak dealers give you replacement parameters for the hatch seals on
your fiberglass or neoprene hatch covers? I don't think so.

As far as Ralph's trolling technique, the only thing _that_ New Yorker
can bring up are old rubber boots -- which apparently we have filleted,
pan broiled, and slowly chewed every morsel off to death. Yeah.
Paddlewise, we eat anything!

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd


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