[Paddlewise] TY: QQ: summer wear revisited - Gore-tex durability

Dave, Than you very much for your clarification and detail. You provided what i was looking for. It sounds like, as you said, were fairly treated. That is important both for the company and the customer. 
  I've made my decision.
  Thanks again.
  Regards,
  john

Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> wrote:
  John H wrote:
> Good afternoon Dave and others -
> 
> Help me to understand how the the Gore-tex wears out. i uderstood the 
> Gortex was laminated between other fabrics, interior and exterior. Does
> the Gor-Tex fail to preform as advertised? Doesn't Gore-Tex have a 
> warrenty on the products? What type of seals are on your drytops? Tell
> me again the products you are using.

Long story short:

0. All were drytops from Kokatat, vintage 1993 - 1997.
1. Older versions of Goretex: about 5 years of _heavy_ use.
2. Failed at the seam tape outer edge from flexure -- leaked there.
3. Ordinary latex seals -- treated with 303 protectorant regularly. began 
to "dissolve" and get sticky at about 5 years.
4. The manufacturer (and I) both agreed I had gotten my money's worth on 
the garment(s), and they gave me a pro deal (or similar) on an upgrade to a 
newer, better garment, for the cost of the seals ... which are expected to 
wear out in about 5 years of heavy use. YMMV.
5. I think I had a replacement somewhere in there, totally a freebie, from 
Kokatat, on one of the drytops.

None of this seemed out of line to me. In fact, it seemed generous of 
Kokatat to stand behind their stuff, given the heavy use I made of it. 
Nothing lasts forever. I think it cost me maybe US$30/year for a stable of 
three drytops (some mine, some my SO's, some were older ones I loaned to 
buddies.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR


       
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