As others have said, 303 works well both as a lubricant, but also as a preservative. Keep it fresh on inside and out to protect from smog and UV rot. Another help -- remove your hatch cover once or twice soon after launching to relieve any negative pressure caused by launching your relatively warm boat (with all the associated warm interior air) on (relatively) cool water. You could also drill a small pressure relief hole in the center of the forward bulkhead to prevent the suction from occurring. Lastly -- I've discovered I can remove any of the balkier covers much easier by peeling it off with the offside hand. For example, if your dayhatch is on the right side and you can't get it off with the right hand, twist to your left and reach across the rear deck with your left hand, grip the cover on the outside / far / right side, and peel it up and off, back towards the center of the deck. If you feel unsteady doing this, simultaneously hold your paddle extended out from the left side of the boat, the left blade 4-6 inches below the surface and the shaft braced on the peak of the deck, holding the shaft at or near the left gunnel with your right hand to brace and steady the boat. By the way -- I personally find the VCP hatches much easier to remove and install than the KajakSport hatches. Harold *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Aug 18 2003 - 16:48:10 PDT
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