Custom Transom Bag - Ripped Handles

[anmut]

Yesterday was the first day water was warm enough to get out and surf. Got the boat all setup, idled out to deep water, hit the throttle, watched the wave form as I was testing speeds, then I heard a big POP! and the bag was in the water. Pulled it to the boat, sat on the transom for 15min while I sucked the water out to pull it back on the boat, and saw the handles were ripped. I put this on Facebook on Saturday so, just to clarify some of the feedback received there...

1) I used this bag all summer, roped it up the same way each time.
2) Bag was bulged, just like last summer.
3) The top handles were ripped at the same spot. The rope through those handles wasn't tied to them, it was just as I did it last summer.
4) Rope through the bottom handles was fine, bottom handles kept the bag right next to the transom.
5) Rope I use is a thick 5/8" docking line.
6) Bag was stored in the boat in off season, boat was stored in climate controlled facility.

It appears to me that the sudden movement of the boat put tension on the upper handles, causing them to rip, then the upper rope slipped up and over the bag and bag went BLOOP.

Because I secured the bag like I did all last season, this seems like a product defect to me. I don't know if the manufacture offers a warranty on these things. I know bags are hard to come by anyway right now. Wondering if I can somehow still use this on my transom without having the handles there as "secure" rope guides - maybe put a rope between the upper and lower ropes??

Needless to say, we didn't get any surfing in on Saturday, it was pretty disappointing.

 

[biffdotorg]

That's a bummer for sure. The biggest issue is proving a defect, when this may only happen when the bag falls off and it gets all that weight put on the handles. As there is little pressure on the actual handles when it's sitting on the deck. They are more of a guide for the rope, but definitely not the full weight of the bag.

Good luck

 

[anmut]

That's a bummer for sure. The biggest issue is proving a defect, when this may only happen when the bag falls off and it gets all that weight put on the handles. As there is little pressure on the actual handles when it's sitting on the deck. They are more of a guide for the rope, but definitely not the full weight of the bag.

Good luck

Yeah, I don't know - only thing I could think of was that the transom was really wet when I setup and the bag shifted? You'd think 750lbs of water would stay put, but something happened. Also, the lower handles didn't rip when the bag was being drug behind the boat...

 

[biffdotorg]

Yeah, I don't know - only thing I could think of was that the transom was really wet when I setup and the bag shifted? You'd think 750lbs of water would stay put, but something happened. Also, the lower handles didn't rip when the bag was being drug behind the boat...

And there inlies the problem with a warranty claim. As a consumer it's near impossible to prove that. And as a MFG, they know there should not be enough strain on the handles to break them, unless they were dry rotted etc. It will be a tough one, but it's a reputable company, and they gain very little denying a claim.

 

[anmut]

And there inlies the problem with a warranty claim. As a consumer it's near impossible to prove that. And as a MFG, they know there should not be enough strain on the handles to break them, unless they were dry rotted etc. It will be a tough one, but it's a reputable company, and they gain very little denying a claim.

I contacted Fly High in Milwaukee to see what they say and I'll update the group. Otherwise I'm going to have to figure out how to McGuyver a solution with the handles being ripped.