All this talk about VCP deterioration has been somewhat amusing to me (sorry, folks -- but it has been). My CD Caribou has, IMO, the best hatch system of all the kayaks I have seen. Despite repeated dunkings, flips, etc., over the last few weeks -- very little water entered the hatches. Very little. And it won't deteriorate. Ever. <G> Mark *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
SRI wrote: > All this talk about VCP deterioration has been somewhat amusing to me > (sorry, folks -- but it has been). My CD Caribou has, IMO, the best hatch > system of all the kayaks I have seen. Despite repeated dunkings, flips, > etc., over the last few weeks -- very little water entered the hatches. > Very little. And it won't deteriorate. Ever. > <G> > Mark Hi Mark. You do store your Caribou with the hatches open as the manufacturer recommends, right? I actually did read the manual when I got my Caribou and it warns that the gasket can take a set if stored under compression for long periods. I always hang my boat upside down with the buckles loose so the hatch hangs on the straps. I have never had my hatches leak a drop, including when doing rolling sessions coming out of ten degree outside weather into a heated pool. Mike P.S. Be careful using that "not ever" phrase, it usually comes back to bite its owner. :-) -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
From: "SRI" To: "Seng, Dave" > All this talk about VCP deterioration has been somewhat amusing to me > (sorry, folks -- but it has been). My CD Caribou has, IMO, the best hatch > system of all the kayaks I have seen. Despite repeated dunkings, flips, > etc., over the last few weeks -- very little water entered the hatches. > Very little. And it won't deteriorate. Ever. > <G> > Mark > now you have uncovered one of my big fears. my wife's CD Pachena is a year older than my kayak, yet her hatches are fine. how do i explain my need for new hatch covers? i agree, it is amusing that famous VCP hatches on my kayak are not up to par with CD hatches on my wife's kayak. i sometimes admit that her boat is much more comfortable than mine. CD manual tells how to store hatches - yes. however, i don't recall any instructions for the VCP product. do instuctions for VCP hatches exist? if so, what does the VCP manual say? bye bye bliven *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Some folks seem to think that the VCP hatches offer the advantage of fast access. Frankly, I find them cumbersome. But aside from that, the suggestion that the CD Caribou hatches are somehow slow of access is, I think, mis-informed. I can get into my Caribou hatches in less than 3 seconds, every time, guaranteed. Once you get used to the strap system on these boats, it's a simple matter. They are very very very easy to get into. Slightly more time to close up, but one would think that would be done at a time when you had a little more leisure. . . . As I said before, I think the Caribou hatches are the best innovation in kayak hatches in years. I challenge any VCP hatch owner on this list to a contest: put some emergency equipment in the hatch, and let's see who can get to it quicker. . . . You name the time and place. <g> And. . . well, fiberglass doesn't "deteriorate". Mark *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
SRI wrote: > Some folks seem to think that the VCP hatches offer the advantage of fast > access. Frankly, I find them cumbersome. But aside from that, the > suggestion that the CD Caribou hatches are somehow slow of access is, I > think, mis-informed. I can get into my Caribou hatches in less than 3 > seconds, every time, guaranteed. Once you get used to the strap system on > these boats, it's a simple matter. They are very very very easy to get > into. Slightly more time to close up, but one would think that would be > done at a time when you had a little more leisure. . . . As I said before, > I think the Caribou hatches are the best innovation in kayak hatches in > years. I challenge any VCP hatch owner on this list to a contest: put some > emergency equipment in the hatch, and let's see who can get to it quicker. . > . . You name the time and place. <g> And. . . well, fiberglass doesn't > "deteriorate". > Mark > > Hi Mark. I will not take you up on that challenge. My new Viviane has rubber hatches and I find them much SLOWER to get into and closed than the Caribou hatches. And this is with the Kajak Sport hatch covers, which people on the list have said are easier to put on! Mike -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Michael R Noyes wrote: > My new Viviane has rubber hatches and > I find them much SLOWER to get into and closed than the Caribou hatches. Interesting. Amie looked at the Kayaksport covers on a Gulfstream 2000 I wanted (her to get) and said she didn't think they were such a good idea. She felt they were hard to remove and put on. She also felt she'd not have a chance with them if her hands were cold. Anyone confirm difficulties with rubber hatch covers with cold hands? Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Mike, No experience in real cold, but I don't find side-release buckles easy on cold hands either. The Kayak Sport hatches are harder to put on and remove than the VCP hatches because they are both stretchier and of a stickier rubber. The trick is to treat them on the inside with 303, which will not only preserve them but also act as a lubricant. To replace the Kayak Sport hatch covers, I've had good success with the following method: Hook the side of the cover opposite the pull tab over the hatch rim. Then place the heals of your hands on the edge of the cover at that point and slide them around the cover in opposite directions simultaneously. Press downward and forward as you go, stretching and smearing the cover onto the rim. If the cover is very warm, it *is* possible to stretch it too much, but you will get the hang of how much pressure is needed. Before treating the covers with 303, they seem nearly impossible to remove or replace. Except for the limited life, I prefer the VCP hatches since they are so easy to use, dry and secure. The KS hatch covers might prove to be longer-lived. Also, IMO the Gulfstream is such a nice boat, it would be a shame to give it up over a small preference like hatch covers. Hope this helps, Harold In a message dated 8/1/00 7:20:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time, michaeldaly_at_home.com writes: > Amie looked at the Kayaksport covers on a Gulfstream 2000 I wanted (her to > get) and said she didn't think they were such a good idea. She felt they were > hard to remove and put on. She also felt she'd not have a chance with them > if her hands were cold. Anyone confirm difficulties with rubber hatch > covers with cold hands? > *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Mike said: <snip><< She felt they were hard to remove and put on. She also felt she'd not have a chance with them if her hands were cold. Anyone confirm difficulties with rubber hatch covers with cold hands?>> During Winter or periods of cold, I find rubber hatches a bit difficult to remove (4 seconds instead of 2 :-)). You need to be very careful with longer fingernails if you attempt to invert your fingers and pry the lid off. I've had some good "ouchies" when my finger nail folded backwards -- more than a few times. One still needs to pry a bit at times, but wet, cold weather can make the ends of your fingers numb and difficult to use. Caribou wins this event, sorry to say! BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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