Re: [Paddlewise] subjective evaluation of kayaks

Dear Evan:
    If you look under "photos" in our website you can see a photograph of
the toggles I used to press the hatch down.  The website is at
www.kayakfit.com .  I used two gaskets, one fit around the edge of the
cutout in the deck, and the other was on the hatch cover.  When the two were
fit together the edge from one tended to dig into the other.  With the hatch
in place on the deck it tended to stand a little above the surrounding deck.
By forcing it down and rotating the toggles in to secure it, the hatch was
forced down fairly uniformly.  The problem with strap systems is that it is
possible to flex the deck and/or hatch, thereby creating openings.  Straps
work when the deck and hatch don't flex before the gasket material is forced
into a sealing position.  If the deck and hatch are light, straps may not be
successful.

best wishes,

Ken Rasmussen

p.s.  I have been able to find leaks by removing a screw and blowing air
into the enclosed space.  By spraying soapy water at bulkheads, deck/hull
seams, the end-pour area, hatches, and bulkheads you can usually determine
where the leakage is.





----- Original Message -----
From: Evan Dallas <Evan_Dallas_at_notes.ntrs.com>
To: <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>
Cc: <kayakfit_at_fidalgo.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 12:11 PM
Subject: subjective evaluation of kayaks


>
>
> Ken wrote:
> <snip>
> >>>    Eddyline Falcon 16:  <<<
> <another snip>
> >>>I devised my own method for sealing the hatches, and they were
> nearly 100% watertight.<<<
>
> How did you do this?  I've got an Eddyline Calypso with leaky hatches,
where the
> hatchcover is like a piece of from the deck with a gasket glued to the
> underside.  The gasket simply presses against a groove in the deck and
more or
> less relies on pressure for a tight seal (I've added compression straps to
the
> outside that increase the pressure, but it still leaks (just not quite as
> much)).  It sort of looks like (hopefully my ascii sketch will come though
OK):
>
> _____________
>       |____|  _________
>     \________/
>
> Did your Falcon use this arrangement?  If so, I'd be very interested to
know how
> you solved the leaking!
>
> Evan
> Woodinville, WA.
>
>
>


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