If they are using RTV to anchor the seats and drywall poppets (equivalent) to anchor the yokes, my opinion of Swift just took a serious hit. I have a Shearwater and it is fantastic. But, it has standard-hung seating on aluminum gunwales and a clamp-on yoke system.
C'mon now, not RTV and not the equivalent of drywall poppets. Riv-nuts and Plus-nuts are industrial grade fasteners, used them alot at Eastman Kodak 30 years ago. Something going on at Swift though. Makes you wonder if the couple of pound weight reduction for carbon gunnels and seat pods is worth the risk. I'll have to be more careful with my Keewaydin.
You are, of course, correct. Shock value statements aside, this was something I asked about at Canoecopia and was told that "there is no way these pods are coming off". I assumed they were at least using a full contact patch of epoxy or vinylester. Appears not.
That is troubling, since the person who posted this issue on the Swift FB Group was not alone. There have been a couple of other issues, such as delamination of their epoxy shield that was posted in the Group and then mysteriously deleted. They have a reputation for 'swiftly' making good on any issues that people have, but disinformation does not become them.
What the……..
Being a NY resident I am still shocked that NY doesn't require registration for non motorized boats. I hope the politicians don't read this post.
