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#10
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Werner doesn't stand behind its paddles
OK, maybe I am being too harsh, since everyone things I'm nuts for
leaving my paddle in the cockpit of my kayak on the car. One thing though - it seems like the resin coating is degraded evenly along the entire shaft. If it was caused by sun, you'd think the center would be worse because the blade end is deep inside the cockpit where one's feet would be (i.e. more protected). Also, my backrest is homemade and I fold it down over the paddle, covering about a foot's length of the shaft. So that would protect it further. Althoug it would be better for the kayak to be protected and not left on the car, we do not have a garage (we live in a townhouse). In the winter, they are stored in a friend's basement. I could take the kayas off the car and put them in the grass alongside a patio, maybe covered with a tarp, but I go kayaking about twice a week during the summer, often alone, and it's a pain to take the kayak off the car and put it back on 2 days later. Also I a sometimes spontaneous and decide to leave work a litte early and go kayaking. If the kayak wasn't on my car, I couldn't do that. I use the 505 UV protectant on the boats - somehow never thought of putting it on the paddle. Up here (Vermont) it seems lots of people leave their kayaks on their cars for extended times. One person asked if we used DEET. We don't. Several people mentioned wet-sanding. Is that just what it sounds like - making the paddle wet and then sanding it? One person asked why I thought a product purchased at REI, EMS, or L.L. Bean would stand up better. It wouldn't. But they have satisfaction guarantees. Jim Hill said "If I absolutely had to leave a boat exposed, I would at least place them inside a hatch to protect them." I have doubts the paddle would fit in the hatch, but I will see. My second paddle (for 2nd boat) is a cheap, heavy paddle. I thought the shaft was plastic, and I've never seen any degradation from the sun even though it is twice as old as the Werner. But maybe it is aluminum shaft... Thanks for the advice. Sorry I was so hard on Werner. I did like the paddle very much... Cathy |