Thanks Solus 8-)

I was hoping someone with repair experience would chime in. I get the abrasion thing but from your post think it's a "Chevy/Ford thing". They both have their pluses/minuses and you have to choose what means the most to you.
In my case, that SR flex is a trade-off I'll take for less speed. Try as I might, I have never taken a trip where I didn't hit a submerged rock at cruising speed due to sun glare, or it was in a spot that you would never expect one. A few times it was just my fault because was looking to far down the lake at scenery and not where I was paddling. ;) :-[