my guess
My guess is they crack on the inside because that’s where you bend them when you take them off.
been
kind of curious about this thread…
The possiability that the problems some are incuring are related to air quality where the kayak is stored or used
the break down of Valley hatches seems to not be across the board.
I have several that are over 10 years old and never been replaced.
auto emissions might be a factor. mine are stored outside and still seem to have no issue, but where I live, the air is clean…no smog etc , not stored in a garage where a car is started and run either.
Best Wishes
Roy
“The possibility that the problems…”
“The possiability that the problems some are incuring are related to air quality where the kayak is stored or used” - fadedred
I concur. As I noted above, 5 of our 6 sea kayaks have at least 1 Valley hatch cover (our 2 NDK boats and Elaho DS have Valley day hatches). These boats and hatch covers range in age from 9+ years to 3 years. Of all these, only 1 hatch cover, on a Valley boat in use for 7 years, is starting to crack.
So, in my use Valley hatch covers hold up well. I am therefore replacing the cracked hatch cover with another Valley. Obviously, others have less success with durability of their Valley hatch covers and are wise to seek alternatives.
But the OP is from Wisconsin …
… Same as you. Same air I would think. I could see if LA or some other such place was involved.
Rubber can be deteriorated by exposure too extremes in heat and cold; UV, chemicals, salt, can play a role. And what about protectants used, such as 303, ArmorAll, etc? I recall reading somewhere that some rubber protectants are actually not that good.
As a new Valley owner, and having looked for years with envy at boats with Valley hatches, I can say they have lived up (so far) to expectations: bone dry compartments. Sure look and feel like the best hatches I’ve seen on any brand of boat. I’m expecting that they last a long time.
I rinse the boat with fresh water after use, as much as possible let the boat air dry before sealing back up. I have always use 303 very liberally inside and out on hatch covers, 2 - 3 times per season. Boat is stored out of the sun in a ventiled area … outside, year round, covered with plastic in the winter.
Perhaps the failure is from hatches on boats stored in full sun, in climates where the rubber freezes at night and heats up on warmer days through out the winter, perhaps spend a lot of time on top of vehicles, where they get more sun and possibly road smog and chemicals, get rinsed off in fresh water less frequently, and have little or no rubber protectants on them?
HMMMM
In my mind…the air quality in say Racine, Milwaulkee, Madison (Southern Wisconsin) is not the same as in the woods of Northern Wisconsin say in Maple, Poplar, Brule, Iron River, Bayfield…
all these towns are in Wisconsin.
I just proposed the idea because people might not be doing their kayak any favor by storing it in their garage where they tend to start and run their car (blowing exhaust all around the kayak) or by living where the radio reports daily on the air condition and smog index…Just a thought, since it would explain the diversity among owners.
Best Wishes
Roy
You would know best …
… Guess I’m jumping to a conclusion about a place I’ve never been. When I think of Wisconsin, what comes to mind is a pristine place, rather than a place where air quality is an issue.
Valley hatches and smog
Just to complicate the analysis, my impex boat has 2 valley ovals and the valley day hatch. We live on and the boats are stored near a very busy semi-urban street. The ovals are completely fine on a 7 year old boat, while I now need to replace the day hatch for the second time. All hatches were 303’d at the same intervals. So it may be more related to the stiffness and the relative flexibility of the hatch cover than just the exposure to the elements
Phil
analysis with pictures
A friend gave me these three Valley hatch covers that she had to replace. I’m going to cut holes in them and put screen over them to keep bugs out when I store my kayak.
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm242/islanders66/kayaking/IMG_0705.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm242/islanders66/kayaking/IMG_0707.jpg
- All three are cracking on the inside and not on the outside. And with all thee hatches it’s not just from bending. The inside is hardened and failing while the outside is still good.
- The hatches on this kayak, a Necky, leaked all the time, salt water, and was routinely left up on top of the car. The hatch covers were removed and put in the kayak when transporting.
- I don’t know if the kayak was stored up off the ground or not. I’m pretty sure it was usually stored in a detached garage with no cars.
- Kayak had heavy use about once a week all year.
- Hatches lasted 3 years.
- no vents on hatches
From these it appears that the salt water inside the hatches, combined with the heat, contributed to the inside failing, while the outside is fine.
There may have been other contributing factors, such as not washing the inside of the hatches, not 303 inside, chemicals, road smog build up inside the hatches, etc. But what jumps out is the leaking hatches, salt water, and heat.
Just trying to state the facts. We hear a lot of complaints but not a lot of pictures or exact use.
I don’t think these were neglected but with more washing, 303, and less heat they probably wouldn’t have failed this soon. Maybe others fail for other reasons? Pictures and exact info would be nice.
Good point
The cracks typically form right about where your thumbs would push when you’re yanking on the edge of the covers.
I just received a Sea-Dog hatch cover
I just received one of their 8" Valley covers and it looks really good and fits well. It’s a rigid, gloss black Nylon cover with a molded to a rubber base and edge. The underside of the edge is tapered, so you can just slap it over the hatch ring and press it - or whack it - down to seal. It has both internal and external tether points, which is important because it definitely will not float.
I haven’t had the chance to try it out, but I’ll report back once I do, perhaps next weekend.
http://www.sea-dog.com/PDF/745170.pdf
I just found the 8" covers for $23.32 (part number 746080) here:
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/google/custom.htm?vp=182931
Valley’s not rubber
I think this is one of the reasons why people question why Valley’s hatches rot and others don’t. Valley hatches are made of a dense foam. that is also why they float whereas Kajak Sport and other hatches don’t. It’s also nice to have two tie down points on these Sea-Lect hatches because they too do not float and need to be tethered.
My Sea-Lect Designs
hatch cover arrived yesterday. It looks very much like the Sea-Dog that Brian describes, but a bit more expensive. Mine was ordered from Rutabaga. It looks good, fits well, and can be removed while seated in the kayak. It will be a bit more difficult to snap it back down, but I’m sure it will be fine. A bit of 303 makes the process easier. It will be getting a good sea test this weekend, and a follow up as I gain experience with it. As future replacements are required, I will almost certainly be ordering more, as opposed to buying the VCP product.
There have been a lot of possible causes offered for the failure of VCP covers. All have their points. But as I stated in the beginning, my covers have been treated to extreme care. And although failure almost always appears first on the inside center portion as a matrix of cracks, the failure quickly progresses to the rest of the material. Even the outer rim will eventually crumble, and inspection often shows voids and flaws in the molding process.
Whatever the cause, most of us agree that the VCP product has it’s problems. For whatever reason, some seem to last longer than others, whether it be latitude, temperature, air quality, humidity, salt or simply luck of the draw. I am just happy to finally have a choice when it comes to selecting a replacement. Time will tell which product is superior. I really appreciate all of the response this thread has encouraged. Thanks, Ken
They’re identical products
No difference.
thanks
keep us posted and let us know how they work out for you…
nah, my boat lives outside
Albeit in the shade.
I was wondering if it has to do with frequency of use. My front hatch has held up better than the day hatch. But my boat gets use every week of the summer, and then every other week until the water’s solid.
Pool water can’t help either.
Thanks!
Great thread! I have just ordered both oval and round lids from the sailboatowners.com place that bnystrom found such good prices at. Very easy ordering process. I will report back on the how the oval hatches fit on my boats (rotomolded VCP Aquanaut and Impex Force 4 that has Valley lids).
Initial test results
I tried the new 8" round Sea-Dog hatch cover for the first time this weekend and here are the results:
Pro’s:
- Pops on easily - Just push down firmly in the center and it pops on with distinct snap, so you know it’s sealed. The semi-rigid Nylon center will “oil can” when you do this, but that just makes it easier to install the cover. If it concerns you, a firm push around the edges or a moderate whack with your fist will also seat the cover. A bit of 303 on the inside of the cover helps it pop into place easily.
- Unlike Valley hatches, it’s either fully on or off, no guessing or partial sealing.
- Comes off easily - Even at 40 degrees, it comes off without any major effort (important for us northerners). No more ripping your fingernails out by the roots when trying remove your Valley hatch covers!
- Seals perfectly on Valley hatch rims - I had no leakage at all.
Con’s:
- The holes in the tether tab are rather small and won’t accept more than 3/32" cord, but that’s easily remedied by drilling them out if necessary, as there’s plenty of material there.
- Sea-Dog covers don’t float, so you must tether them.
The bottom line:
I can’t think of a single good reason to ever buy another Valley hatch cover. The Sea-Dog covers are easier to install and remove, seal well, do not stiffen significantly in cold weather and should be much more durable. On top of that, they’re around half the price of Valley covers. Game, set and match to Sea-Dog!
VCP hatch cover alternative:
– Last Updated: Jun-10-12 9:21 AM EST –
The poor quality, short lived factory covers remain my pet peeve re: the otherwise excellent design and build of Valley kayaks. I have been using the fine Sea Dog, (Sea-Lect), direct replacement covers for over a year and a half, now. Rutabaga can provide them and their service has been exceptional. I use my kayaks several times a week here in Florida year 'round. I do a lot of rolling and spend a great deal of time upside down. These covers may leak a tablespoon or two of water, but so too will the Valley's. They show no signs of wear or deterioration. The 18" covers have to be carefully aligned to ensure a good seal, but so too with the Valley's. I can see no reason, at this time, of ever going back to the Valley cover. If you feel you must use the originals, be sure you are getting fresh inventory, as they appear to deteriorate over time, whether from use or storage.
Doreen
You contacted me through the email link, but your email account bounced my replay.
Sea-Lect does sell just the cover. However they do not sell directly to consumers. You will have to make the purchase through a retailer.
My local paddling shop stocks them:
http://www.rutabaga.com/sea-lect-designs-round-hatch-cover-8-in
VCP useless covers
I concur with all the users who have posted cracking problems with Valley hatch covers. I have several boats that use these and while they did seal well, I have had all of them crack at some point… I got back to Florida after this summer away and found all 3 covers in my Nordkapp were completely split in half! They had been removed and left free inside the hatch compartment. I can’t trust these things… what if I were away on a 3 week trip and that’s when they decided to break? Jeez, even on a day trip, that would be a small disaster.
It’s not the first time that VCP have heard this, so isn’t it time that they cleaned up their act? At around $200 to replace the set, and also considering that the boat is nearly unusable without covers, I would consider them to be a "lifetime’ product… a bit like having the hood of your car disintegrate every year (!)
Ive gone to Sea-Lect and am totally happy. They also weigh about 2 pounds less for the lot.