G'Day, Just came back from an interstate paddle with a small club. One of the members had purchased a new and reputable kayak but the dealer had supplied cheap substitute hatchcovers instead of the standard version. The trip leader demonstrated what could happen if the paddler attempted a rescue by placing her hand on the cover. He pushed it easily completely inside the kayak - It was a revelation to me as well as the kayak owner. The leader made some very colourful and uncomplimentary remarks about the dealer in question and was considering publishing the issue in the club journal. Point is this was an inexperienced but determined kayaker who paddled at sea and was game enough to try rough water near her limits. Sooner or later she might need to carry out a self rescue, as people who push their limits appropriately, would expect to do. This was a small club in which the members often paddle in groups of two or three. Such groups might be knowledgeable enough about normal good kayaking practice but not necessarily enough to identify defective equipment sold as bona fide seaworthy gear. For example I've paddled for three years and 3000 miles and didn't identify the hazard! How would one deal with this situation? All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Yikes! Apart from putting out an APB on the dealer, I suppose this illustrates the old belt and braces approach of ensuring that your hatches contain floatation of some sort (unless they're full). I've certainly seen perfectly reputable hatch covers come off by accident in the past, for whatever reason. In my BC (before collapsible - i.e. Feathercraft) days, I used to cram old empty plastic lemonade bottles, sealed with duct tape, into my empty hatches as floatation backup - too mean to buy float bags, well I was saving up for a F'craft ;-) . I do have float bags for the K1, essential as it has no watertight bulkheads, just the sea sock. In the UK we have a concept called "fit for purpose" which all retailers and suppliers are supposed to adhere to: I'd say a sea kayak with self-opening hatches is rather wide of that mark. Nick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Realistically, complain, demand the correct hatches, and write the boat manufacturer. Correctly, ...you can't hang him since no one died. I say a good old fashioned community tar and feather, followed by a ride out of town on a rail would suffice. Fun for the little ones and old folks too, with a BBQ and paddle afterwards. Kevin G'Day, One of the members had purchased a new and reputable kayak but the dealer had supplied cheap substitute hatchcovers instead of the standard version. He pushed it easily completely inside the kayak - How would one deal with this situation? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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