Reed Aquatherm hatch covers

[MartinS]

As I am about to replace a set of rotting hatch covers I wondered if anyone had tried the Reed Aquatherm covers. They look good, dont suffer from the usual problems with UV, but do they stay on in a heavy sea/surf. would be good to get some feedback.
Martin

[Ceegee]

I'm under the impression that they are intended as "emergency" covers, i.e. they fold up small and can be used to get you home if you loose the main cover. They seem a bit flimsy to be used in anger as an alternative to OEM rubber covers.

JMHO

Steve

[CaptainSensible]

I agree with Ceegee - most people seem to use them as a kind of paclite hatch cover for emergencies.

I can't think of any reason (apart from durability) why they couldn't be used all the time though; why should an emergency hatch cover be any less watertight than a conventional hatch cover?

[tenboats1]

I have just replaced perfectly good hatch covers with the Reed ones purely to save weight. This is for my small dayboat which I rarely use for serious paddling.

I have not been afloat with them yet so don't know how water tight they are. They are much more fiddly to fit though, and not as tight across as I would have thought. (I was expecting 'drum-tight'). I will try them in surf as soon as I can. I can press them down hard and the material stretches rather alarmingly but they stay on.

Weight saving is over a kg I think..................I've been weighing lots of bike kit this week so might be a bit confused.

Having got them I'll carry them as spares when using the big boat.

[ChrisS]

I would use them, but I would make sure that I had inflated air bags in both the main compartments, which is best practice in any case for unloaded boats (honoured more in the breach than observance in my case).

But I'm probably being over-cautious.

[tenboats1]

I would use them, but I would make sure that I had inflated air bags in both the main compartments, which is best practice in any case for unloaded boats (honoured more in the breach than observance in my case).

But I'm probably being over-cautious.

I can see the sense in the air bags but I'm not aware of any body I paddle with who does this. It would certainly negate any weight saving of using the Reed covers. (I'm assuming you are saying Reed covers = need for air bags, standard covers do not need the back up of air bags??)

[Douglas Wilcox]

I use a couple of WW stern buoyancy bags in my front and back compartments when my boat is empty. If you go rockhopping in rough water there is always the chance of holing a boat on rocks or on collision with another boat. I believe HMAC holed his Nordkapp LV at the storm gathering and was grateful for the buoyancy provided by a dry bag with spare clothing.

Douglas

[ChrisS]

... (I'm assuming you are saying Reed covers = need for air bags, standard covers do not need the back up of air bags??)

No, I wasn't saying that at all. :o)

[tenboats1]

... (I'm assuming you are saying Reed covers = need for air bags, standard covers do not need the back up of air bags??)

No, I wasn't saying that at all. :o)

Pheww! Glad to hear that.

(Mind you, I might be saying that if they prove to be unreliable).

[Sgian Dubh]

Although not a hatch cover per say, I have a Reed cockpit cover on my kevlar Anas Acuta. It's on at the moment in this proffesional weather we are having & has a few pints of water sitting on top, forcing into a concave pool. None of the water has got inside. I can also bear hug roll the kayak with the cover on in the sea & nothing gets in. That should be testament to the Reed Aquatherm covers fit & weatherproof abilities.

[Jim]

Although not a hatch cover per say, I have a Reed cockpit cover on my kevlar Anas Acuta. It's on at the moment in this proffesional weather we are having & has a few pints of water sitting on top, forcing into a concave pool. None of the water has got inside. I can also bear hug roll the kayak with the cover on in the sea & nothing gets in. That should be testament to the Reed Aquatherm covers fit & weatherproof abilities.

Can you do a headstand on it in 4m swell in a force 4? That I would think would constitute a REAL test :-)

[Sgian Dubh]

Can you do a headstand on it in 4m swell in a force 4? That I would think would constitute a REAL test :-)

Yes Jim, I tried exactly that, & •≈this occurred. :o)

[thames kayak]

Does anybody remember the Vyneck? Or feathercraft boats. they have material hatch covers. Well done Chris Reed, your kit is well thought out, it works, made in the uk and you employ people who pay tax into our economy. Modern hatch covers dont float as well!

What a shit thread, go paddling instead.

[Paddy Cool]

Does anybody remember the Vyneck? Or feathercraft boats. they have material hatch covers. Well done Chris Reed, your kit is well thought out, it works, made in the uk and you employ people who pay tax into our economy. Modern hatch covers dont float as well!

If you speak to Reed they will tell you that the hatch covers are for when the boat is in storage to prevent UV damage to the hard covers - not for use in anger. (I was looking at the weight saving issue too)

[ChrisS]

If you speak to Reed they will tell you that the hatch covers are for when the boat is in storage to prevent UV damage to the hard covers - not for use in anger. (I was looking at the weight saving issue too)

Reed tend to be cautious about what they claim for their products. Another example is their "paddle suit" which is not sold as a dry suit.

[MartinS]

Thanks for the feedback Folks! Pity nothing tried and tested yet. They seem to be a great idea
I also have a Reed spraydeck which has been out in some sizeable surf with no adverse effect, the flex in the material is in fact an advaantage as it will take the strain off a sudden impact on the surface of the cover.
I would agree Reed seem be a little cautious in their claims, why would you fit "6mm shock cord and s.steel pig rings for fastening to your deck lines" just for hanging your boat up in the garage. guess the jury is still out but it would,nt supprise me if in a few years time people will be saying
"What you doing with those thumping great hatch covers ,they will rot in sunlight"
Martin

[Jim]

Can you do a headstand on it in 4m swell in a force 4? That I would think would constitute a REAL test :-)

Yes Jim, I tried exactly that, & •≈this occurred. :o)

Nuff said!

[CaptainSensible]

My hatch covers get taken off the boat & rinsed after every trip, and are kept indoors. They are heavy, but I expect them to last for a very long time. Why would anyone leave a boat outside for long periods with the hatch covers on?

[Jim]

My hatch covers get taken off the boat & rinsed after every trip, and are kept indoors. They are heavy, but I expect them to last for a very long time. Why would anyone leave a boat outside for long periods with the hatch covers on?

People without space to store the boat indoors might do it to keep the rain out? My hatch covers are tied on and I just push them into the hatches and expect the whole thing to air dry in the time I won't be using it (I really don't get out frequently enough).

My spare hatch covers are the old ones that were showing a few signs of wear, to be honest they are a pain to tuck in the boat (half under the seat, and they need the stainless steel bands which are a nightmare always sliding around), some nice aquatherm ones I could roll up quite small and stash, perhaps in a stuff bag maybe even alongside my cockpit cover (which is standard neoprene, but now I am thinking). Oh yes, on expeditions the hatch covers go back on once I am unloaded and the cockpit cover goes on to keep the rain out overnight (and keep the damp kit in).

By expedition I mean holiday.

Jim

[Callum M]

Hi All

I thought I'd resurrect this thread.

All the hatch covers on my Valley Avocet have started cracking (after less than two years!) so I'll need to replace them.

I saw the Reed aquatherm covers on their website and see that they don't degrade or crack in UV light so they seem like a good idea.

Has anyone had tried them ?- I'm keen to find out if they stay in place in rough conditions.

I emailed Reed to ask if they are intended purely for emergency replacements or whether they are OK to use all the time for paddling. I got a reply from the designer saying that they would be fine to use all the time.

Thanks
Callum

[Nick P]

I had Reed make some bespoke hatch covers for my old Aquaterra Sealion, to replace the aged neoprene covers that had lost their elasticity. I supplied paper templates of the hatch coamings and Reed made the covers. However, on the Sealion the hatches were further protected by semi-rigid polythene covers that were held down with webbing straps, so the covers themselves were never subject to direct impact from water. The replacement Reed covers were completely watertight once the perimeter shockcord was cinched down tight, although the camming device that grips the shockcord got a bit in the way of the polythene covers. Never used them without the polythene covers, so don't know if they were bomb-proof on their own.
Have since sold the boat.

Nick

[Callum M]

Hi Nick

Thanks for the reply.

I've ordered some so I'll give them a try (I've also ordered some buoyancy bags for the bow and the stern compartments as a back up, just in case)

Callum

[rija]

Hi All

I thought I'd resurrect this thread.

All the hatch covers on my Valley Avocet have started cracking (after less than two years!) so I'll need to replace them.

I saw the Reed aquatherm covers on their website and see that they don't degrade or crack in UV light so they seem like a good idea.

Has anyone had tried them ?- I'm keen to find out if they stay in place in rough conditions.

I emailed Reed to ask if they are intended purely for emergency replacements or whether they are OK to use all the time for paddling. I got a reply from the designer saying that they would be fine to use all the time.

Thanks
Callum

I own them and carry them but, I carry them as emergency hatch covers. 2 years ago, at a symposium on the west coast of Sweden we had a weekend with high wind and big seas. To cut a long story short - there was an incident, quite serious but luckily enough ending up with only a kayak being quite badly smashed up against a rocky shore. Reason? The kayaker that capsized in a very bad spot had, in order to save weight, replaced his hatch covers with soft Reed Aquaterms. Bad Idea. In the conditions we had that day, they did not hold up against the seas and he ended up with a swamped boat. So, based on that experience the answer is no. They will not stay on in rough conditions. Perfect as emergency covers but I would not use them in any other way.

[sleepybubble]

Hi All

I thought I'd resurrect this thread.

All the hatch covers on my Valley Avocet have started cracking (after less than two years!) so I'll need to replace them.

I saw the Reed aquatherm covers on their website and see that they don't degrade or crack in UV light so they seem like a good idea.

Has anyone had tried them ?- I'm keen to find out if they stay in place in rough conditions.

I emailed Reed to ask if they are intended purely for emergency replacements or whether they are OK to use all the time for paddling. I got a reply from the designer saying that they would be fine to use all the time.

Thanks
Callum

I did use them for about 18 months on the Baidaka as my hatch covers. No problems whatsoever. Including in surf, never a drip was let past by them. I still have them now as a set of emergency covers. They were second hand when I got them so must be pushing on in years now. A good item and surely well worth the money.

Mark