It is no secret that boating is tough on gear, but when we received an email from Brianna last November, we knew this was not the usual 'wear and tear' that we were used to seeing.
After a cross-country road trip and nervy but successful descent of the Tallulah steps and preceding gorge, all seemed as if it was well and good for Bri and her partner....until crisis struck.
Bri's boat slid off the roof rack and dove onto the roadway en route back to the put-in. Unfortunately, an oncoming truck crushed her boat and shredded her brand new Royale spray skirt. Luckily, no one was hurt, but neither her boat nor skirt fared well. 
Not a happy moment when your skirt looks like this...
After an impromptu photo-op and accepting that her gear was probably headed to the landfill, Bri contacted us to see if we could do anything to remedy her problem.
Impromptu photo op
Lucky for her, we specialize in repairing and maintaining equipment. So after filling out a support ticket on our website and getting her spray skirt to our headquarters in Confluence, Pennsylvania, our head east-coast repair guru Colton got to work.
Thrashed
Fine handy work
Progress
After some tricky incisions and mighty-fine handy work Colton had her skirt as good as new. This skirt required a full overhaul, patching, new seam tape and a new rand.
Looking usable
BEAUTIFUL WORK! Ready for many, many seasons of paddling.
Unfortunately, gear is expensive, and it's just not financially feasible to buy new every season. Though your best practice when it comes to increasing longevity to your kit is personal care, professional maintenance and repair can significantly prolong the lifespan of your equipment. Additionally, it keeps gear out of landfills and on the water.
Our team takes pride in rehabilitating equipment, so use our repair/maintenance services when necessary. Tell your boating friends that we offer this kind of service. Preparation is vital, and maintaining your equipment now will save your butt in the long run. So do yourself a favor and get your equipment serviced by the best in the business.
Love,
Immersion Research
P.S. - Thank you, Bri, for allowing us to share your spray skirt journey for all the world to behold. We hope that your Royale offers you a dry-implosion-resistant boating experience for many seasons to come.