I bought my current kayak back in 2015, a Wilderness Systems ATAK 140.  I absolutely love this kayak and it has served me well over the 7 years I have owned it on everything from streams you can cast across to out in the bay in the OBX and everything in between.  It was the first kayak I bought in my decades long kayak fishing career that after a year I wasn't looking for the next one.  

 

Last trip out while standing to fish as I normally do, I noticed a crack by one of the scuppers.  I didn't think anything of it and I sent them some pics and they said it was UV damaged so no warranty.  This is the first pic I sent.  I didn't bother cleaning my kayak, well because I never do and it is stored outside and well supported on my trailer and covered 90% of the time.  

 

 

So I called customer service and expressed my concerns and they sid well why don't you clean it up and see if that can show better the famage becuase it absolutley looks like UV damage.  I said sure and sen a pic but it was still wet so they said can you send another one when dry.  I obliged and sent this pic.  Night and day difference as you can see.  They responded with yup, all that dirt made it look like a UV problem so it will be warrantied for sure.  Unfortunately they do not make this kayak anymore so I will be getting a new 12' version of the same kayak, different color, which I am ok with.  Since I am about 2 hours from the nearest dealer, they will be shipping me out a new kayak once i show them this hull is destroyed and no longer usable.  They said I can still use it till i get the notification my kayak is ready to ship, 6-8 weeks.  I think I will use my chainsaw to show it is trashed  Cool part is i can keep all the parts and use them as i see fit so that is a win win for me.

 

So kudos to Wilderness for taking care of me and working through some details and standing behind their product.  And for any kayak owners out there looking for a warranty....clean it first and save the hassle   Now I get to rig up a new kayak which is fun up until it cuts into fishing time of course.

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Cool deal! 

It really does look like UV damage in the first pic.  But it was really nice of them to give you an appeal, as it doesn't look so bad in the last.  A story with a happy ending!  What's not to love?

Just now, Bankc said:

It really does look like UV damage in the first pic.  But it was really nice of them to give you an appeal, as it doesn't look so bad in the last.  A happy ending!  

Yeah i didn't even think about that when I sent it because i know UV damage makes things brittle but it was flexing when i stood on it for sure lol  I'll plastic weld it while i wait for the replacement