Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

Rock Hopper · 08-23-2005, 10:48 PM

This is an interesting topic, one that I really did not want to comment on but now I feel compelled to do so.

To answer the comment that has been brought up regarding a cuff or a neck seal tearing, yes that can, will and does happen. This isn't due to being a weakness or a poor design but due more to the stress caused by the users to those areas. On the AquaSkinz site we have put up a link for proper doning and removing of the tops for this very reason. If you pull a rubber band beyond its limits it will snap, same thing here.

To the novice this may seem like it should not happen but to the experienced individual who has used these types of "technical" garments, it is expected, especially if the garment is being used extensively and even more so if it is being put on and removed incorrectly.

For the most part the fishing community is new to this concept and we have been at the forefront in introducing this to this community; hence taking a beating at times unjustly. I personally have been fishing in a wet suit for more than 12 years and in dry top for about ten years. I have more than half dozen dry tops that are now un-used, due to either a tear in the cuff or the neck seal. Why? It costs anywhere from $60.00 to $80.00 to change out a rubber cuff seal and $120-$150 to do a neck seal. It is cheaper to buy a new jacket most of the time.

The other thing is, the rubber gasgets used in most dry tops have about half the life expectancy of the neoprene gasgets we use, trust me, I have done extensive re-search on this. The rubber seals will dry and rot in a relatively short period of time in the salt water even if you wash them regularly. They need to be kept oiled, kinda like a moisterizer. My experience is that most fisherman will not due this but people who kayak exclusively and people who yacht do, hence extending the life of the jacket.

Everyone has a right to buy the product they deem the best for them but I can assure you as an owner of a company that has brought a new concept to fishing the shores of the NE coast that we work very diligently to make sure we have covered as many of the bases as we can think of and when there is a problem, we take care of our clients.

There are large companies out there (S***s) that went as far as trying to buy our EVO2 on the sneak and then copied our design! Why? Because we did all the research, we designed it for the fisherman, we marketed it and then they jumped on our coat tails. They even solicited our dealers off of our web site. You would think a company the size of S***s would have their own ability to design, market and sell but I guess they thought it easier to scavange off of our hard work. That is okay, that is business.

Just for the record, the EVOII has had some minor adjustments for the reasons noted above. The cuff design has been slighlty changed for the better as has the neck seal. Are they impervious to damage, no. They still must be cared for and the proper techniques must be applied for the longevity of the product. I still have customers that are using their original Evolutions without a hitch. Just this past weekend I had to teach a very, very experienced fisherman the way to remove the top as he was pulling and stretching the cuffs beyond what they should be expected to handle. My point, people are still learning the proper way.

Many years ago, there were rods that were like broom sticks, you could throw a pound of lead and a whole bunker and they wouldn't flintch, now we have state of the art rods of all kinds, with specific weight variances and we know we can't or we shouldn't go much beyod those variances. This is kinda the same theory. It will take some time for people to understand this when it comes to these typed of garments.

As a far as fool proof products go, there are none that I am aware of. We make what we believe to be the best tops for the applications they are intented for. No other dry top in the market place is going to give the freedom up top for movement we require that the EVO or the Hurricane is going to give. They just aren't cut for it. Even the competitor who copied our design didn't calculate that. Why? Because they are not fisherman catering to fisherman's needs, that simple.

I apologize if I have gone on too long with this. For those that supported us when we first came on the seen and for those that continue to support us, THANK YOU! We will continue to do our best and we will continue to provide superior customer service. We will continue to support the local causes, organizations, tournaments and events as it is what this company believes in.

Thanks again, best regards and good fishing.

Kadir Akturk
President
AquaSkinz Corp.

08-23-2005, 10:48 PM	#16
Rock Hopper Registered User iTrader: (0) Join Date: May 2003 Location: LI, NY Posts: 392	This is an interesting topic, one that I really did not want to comment on but now I feel compelled to do so. To answer the comment that has been brought up regarding a cuff or a neck seal tearing, yes that can, will and does happen. This isn't due to being a weakness or a poor design but due more to the stress caused by the users to those areas. On the AquaSkinz site we have put up a link for proper doning and removing of the tops for this very reason. If you pull a rubber band beyond its limits it will snap, same thing here. To the novice this may seem like it should not happen but to the experienced individual who has used these types of "technical" garments, it is expected, especially if the garment is being used extensively and even more so if it is being put on and removed incorrectly. For the most part the fishing community is new to this concept and we have been at the forefront in introducing this to this community; hence taking a beating at times unjustly. I personally have been fishing in a wet suit for more than 12 years and in dry top for about ten years. I have more than half dozen dry tops that are now un-used, due to either a tear in the cuff or the neck seal. Why? It costs anywhere from $60.00 to $80.00 to change out a rubber cuff seal and $120-$150 to do a neck seal. It is cheaper to buy a new jacket most of the time. The other thing is, the rubber gasgets used in most dry tops have about half the life expectancy of the neoprene gasgets we use, trust me, I have done extensive re-search on this. The rubber seals will dry and rot in a relatively short period of time in the salt water even if you wash them regularly. They need to be kept oiled, kinda like a moisterizer. My experience is that most fisherman will not due this but people who kayak exclusively and people who yacht do, hence extending the life of the jacket. Everyone has a right to buy the product they deem the best for them but I can assure you as an owner of a company that has brought a new concept to fishing the shores of the NE coast that we work very diligently to make sure we have covered as many of the bases as we can think of and when there is a problem, we take care of our clients. There are large companies out there (S*s) that went as far as trying to buy our EVO2 on the sneak and then copied our design! Why? Because we did all the research, we designed it for the fisherman, we marketed it and then they jumped on our coat tails. They even solicited our dealers off of our web site. You would think a company the size of S*s would have their own ability to design, market and sell but I guess they thought it easier to scavange off of our hard work. That is okay, that is business. Just for the record, the EVOII has had some minor adjustments for the reasons noted above. The cuff design has been slighlty changed for the better as has the neck seal. Are they impervious to damage, no. They still must be cared for and the proper techniques must be applied for the longevity of the product. I still have customers that are using their original Evolutions without a hitch. Just this past weekend I had to teach a very, very experienced fisherman the way to remove the top as he was pulling and stretching the cuffs beyond what they should be expected to handle. My point, people are still learning the proper way. Many years ago, there were rods that were like broom sticks, you could throw a pound of lead and a whole bunker and they wouldn't flintch, now we have state of the art rods of all kinds, with specific weight variances and we know we can't or we shouldn't go much beyod those variances. This is kinda the same theory. It will take some time for people to understand this when it comes to these typed of garments. As a far as fool proof products go, there are none that I am aware of. We make what we believe to be the best tops for the applications they are intented for. No other dry top in the market place is going to give the freedom up top for movement we require that the EVO or the Hurricane is going to give. They just aren't cut for it. Even the competitor who copied our design didn't calculate that. Why? Because they are not fisherman catering to fisherman's needs, that simple. I apologize if I have gone on too long with this. For those that supported us when we first came on the seen and for those that continue to support us, THANK YOU! We will continue to do our best and we will continue to provide superior customer service. We will continue to support the local causes, organizations, tournaments and events as it is what this company believes in. Thanks again, best regards and good fishing. Kadir Akturk President AquaSkinz Corp.
	Aquaskinz