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Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
By:Jonathan Tunik
Date: 4/1/2017, 8:34 pm
In Response To: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle *PIC* (Jonathan Tunik)

Hi everyone,
Thanks for all your thoughts - so glad I could inspire such a wide ranging discussion :). For the record: I have neither accepted nor rejected the endless arguments about GP vs. Euro here, but my goal was to repair, not to replace. Regarding converting it into a fixed paddle: I considered that as a last resort, but the person who commented on the obvious advantages of a 2-piece (for me, primarily stowability on deck as a spare, which a fixed paddle cannot be used for) was right on target. My primary paddle is a fixed paddle, but I need a 2-piece as a spare for expeditions. (And for the record, as much as I admire Freya, I have no desire to circumnavigate any continents.)

I think it is also worth reporting here how disappointed I am with Werner. Their response to my inquiry was that the damage was not "due to a flaw in materials or workmanship" and would not therefore offer any kind of discount for the repair. Apparently, the fact that the damage was clearly due to a flaw in design -- the protruding release button which caused the parts to separate during a storm roll -- was not of concern to them. They were going to charge $175 to repair a paddle that I paid $230 for 8 years ago. I would no longer recommend Werner as a reputable company.

The good news is that I determined that the problem with the release button was simply that it was jamming (possibly due to grit or salt, maybe combined with a bit of binding due to the crack). I was able to get that freed up and now I just have to reinforce the crack with fiberglass cloth as one of the earlier posts recommended and I think I'll be fine.

Messages In This Thread

Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle *PIC*
Jonathan Tunik -- 3/26/2017, 2:48 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Etienne Muller -- 3/26/2017, 4:16 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Jonathan Tunik -- 3/26/2017, 4:46 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Etienne Muller -- 3/26/2017, 4:52 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 3/26/2017, 5:07 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Etienne Muller -- 3/26/2017, 5:11 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Jonathan Tunik -- 3/26/2017, 9:14 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
scottbaxter -- 3/26/2017, 10:37 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
scottbaxter -- 3/26/2017, 10:39 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/26/2017, 10:46 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Etienne Muller -- 3/27/2017, 4:49 am
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
scottbaxter -- 3/27/2017, 1:52 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Roy Martin -- 3/27/2017, 10:05 am
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Thomas Duncan -- 3/28/2017, 11:48 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Mike Bielski -- 3/27/2017, 11:17 am
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/27/2017, 11:52 am
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Mike Bielski -- 3/27/2017, 12:14 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle *PIC*
Roy Martin -- 3/27/2017, 12:18 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle *PIC*
Roy Martin -- 3/27/2017, 12:29 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle *NM* *PIC*
Roy Martin -- 3/27/2017, 12:32 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/27/2017, 12:56 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
scottbaxter -- 3/26/2017, 10:51 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle *PIC*
scottbaxter -- 3/26/2017, 11:03 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Paul Sylvester -- 3/27/2017, 5:17 am
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
JohnAbercrombie -- 3/27/2017, 11:28 am
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 3/27/2017, 7:00 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Les Cheeseman -- 3/28/2017, 3:40 pm
Re: Paddle: Cracked kayak paddle
Jonathan Tunik -- 4/1/2017, 8:34 pm