This may be old news on this list, but I just got confirmation from the company that the Smart Track rudder system is being discontinued. Some of the manufacturers that use the rudder have been informed, but it seems the dealers selling the product as after market have not. I was attempting to buy parts and was considering purchasing another complete unit, when I heard the news, and subsequently confirmed it. Anyone needing a spare blade, or replacement parts should do so soon. I apologize if this subject has been well covered in the past. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
seapaddler_at_runbox.com wrote: > This may be old news on this list, but I just got confirmation from the company that the > Smart Track rudder system is being discontinued. Shoot. I got one of them on a boat I built about a year ago, a double. I found it's a great system that hasn't been duplicated by any other manufacturer. The "gas pedal" style really works well for me. It's also very easy to retract and release. But you know, other than kayak builders, I can't really imagine a big market for modifying existing boats. For big manufacturers either. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Interesting news. Though I am not surprised. Kirby -----Original Message----- From: seapaddler_at_runbox.com This may be old news on this list, but I just got confirmation from the company that the Smart Track rudder system is being discontinued. Some of the manufacturers that use the rudder have been informed, but it seems the dealers selling the product as after market have not. I was attempting to buy parts and was considering purchasing another complete unit, when I heard the news, and subsequently confirmed it. Anyone needing a spare blade, or replacement parts should do so soon. I apologize if this subject has been well covered in the past. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Bummer. I've written here before about how pleased I've been both with my Smart Track and with the after-sales support. That said, I can see why it wouldn't be a big seller as an after-market retro-fit, whether installation was done by the customer or the dealer. It would need a "critical mass" of manufacturers installing it as original equipment to be remain economically viable. On the upside, the company is owned by Cascade Designs, makers of the Therm-A-Rest mats. They're pretty sound, so with any luck it'll still be possible to cadge Smart Track parts and knowledge from them for a while yet. Philip >-----Original Message----- >From: seapaddler_at_runbox.com > >This may be old news on this list, but I just got confirmation from the >company that the >Smart Track rudder system is being discontinued. Some of the manufacturers >that use >the rudder have been informed, but it seems the dealers selling the product >as after >market have not. I was attempting to buy parts and was considering >purchasing another >complete unit, when I heard the news, and subsequently confirmed it. Anyone >needing a >spare blade, or replacement parts should do so soon. I apologize if this >subject has been >well covered in the past. *************************************************************************** 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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