mmiller wrote:
Fyi...
We have not seen a single crack in a drive well on boats produced over the last year and four months. That is a zero percent warranty on drive well cracks for boats in that range.
That is great news Matt.
It may be bit premature to think the problem has been eliminated though. My second crack occured after 22 months of use.
Roadrunner wrote:
Aside from the annoyance, is it safe to use Hobies, knowing there is a possibility of getting a crack in the drivewell? In my experience with cracks, they start out small, leak a little bit and give plenty of warning as to what is going on. I have absolutely no concern about this as a safety issue.
I agree 100% Roadrunner.
Both my cracks started out with a bit more water than normal in the hull. I continued using them and each time more water would be appearing. The second crack was interesting. I was getting more water in, 10litres or so, and went straight to the drivewell, gave it a close inspection and could see no crack so I thought I may have damaged a scupper tube. I couldn't find any crack. Did a couple more trips, more water in, another inspection and there it was. It certainly took time to become visible.
ELM wrote:
As for the Mirage slot and cracking, is the problem just caused by forces and flex driven by the Mirage, or is part of the issue, tension from expansion/contraction and compression through different thickness materials. A bit like concrete and how it always cracks through week points where thick areas become narrow quickly, or indifferent to the rest of the area.
Good point ELM.
Thomas,
I would say a catastophic failure that causes the kayak to sink is extremely unlikely. Carrying the safety gear mentioned in this thread is a wise precaution though.
I did notice that swapping to the paddle decreased the amount of water taken on considerably. So if you are out in open water and notice the kayak is sluggish, unbalanced and sitting lower in the water, open the hatch and check.
If you notice water in, remove the drive and paddle or sail to safety.