I’ve had the V-Marine pushpole caddy on my platform for a little over a year and the top portion somehow dissappeared at some point during a ride back in - It’s not the quick release version.
Has anyone else had this happen? It looks like a bolt sheared, but nothing impacted it. A real head scratcher.
My boat shed is like 12’ tall and if the door or something was down too far, my front platform sissy bar would have been demolished, so I’m fairly certain I’ve never backed it into anything. Also, I always tie up at the dock on the opposite side of the caddy due to my pushpole and trolling motor being on the same side.
I reached out to them about any warranty a few days ago but haven’t heard back.
I’m a bit hesitant to replace it with the same thing as $140 seems excessive for a caddy that only lasts a vear or so.
Anyway, anyone have this happen to them? I’m hoping its just a freak thing.
That’s too bad. My Tibor caddy started binding and grinding despite routine freshwater rinses and lube. I sent it back to the factory. They sent me a new one, for a $75 charge, if I recall. Their lifetime warranty has been a little hollow to me ever since.
The Tibor on my Skull Island did the same thing. They wouldn’t sell me just the top half, I had to buy a whole new caddy. A guy at the Fisherman’s Motel in Matagorda (where I discovered the loss) told me his had just done the same thing.
@hipshot Thank you for your reply. A few of my guide buddies reached out and said the same thing. They have all had multiple pushpole holders break in the same spot. I guess it’s just part of the game. Mine lasted about 300 hours, so I guess I just need to budget an extra 50 cents an hour for pushpole caddies haha.
@Renegade Yeah, I see what you’re saying. It’s the part that rotates that fell off. Not sure how it was attached. Once I take it off, I’ll see if that bolt is the end of the mounting bolt or an internal stud for the top portion. Maybe the constant vibration mixed with corrosion is enough to weaken it.
Anyway, seems like a common thing on skiffs that see higher hours.
@Willyd6869 - wondering if that spot hides corrosion on the bolt because it is where the caddy pivots. Good for the reat of us to know - I am going to hit mine with sime fluid film there.
The threaded stud has slits in the threads so it locks in the base, this probably causes a weak spot and it shears at that point.
For the record my hard mounted Tibor has been on my platform for over 12 years with no issue.
