The 7.5" VCP on my demo Mariner II lasted 13 years before needing replacement. I've sold a lot of replacement VCP lids and it is my experience that the damage begins on the inside rather than on the side exposed to the sun. My best guess is that styrene fumes built up from leaving them on a closed fiberglass compartment is the major source of decay. The Mariner II was always stored in the shade and had no front bulkhead to trap the degassing resin fumes. It was also a vacuum-bagged kayak so only the hand laid seams would be degassing styrene. If I'm correct then if your kayak has a bulkhead the hatch should last longer if you remove it during storage. Someone said not to bend the hatch too much. I think this is incorrect. An old 303 brochure I remember said rubber holds up better if it is regularly exercised. Something about keeping it from drying out. This is why the sidewalls on a spare tire on the back of a vehicle gets checked long before the tires meeting the road. Matt Broze www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** 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 Thu Apr 14 2005 - 22:01:45 PDT
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