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#1
posted to rec.boats.paddle
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Another Beginner seeking advice...
My budget is pretty low. I have to keep it under $500 for a
recreational kayak, paddle, and life vest. I would love to hear some recommendations. I live in northern indiana so I'm not planning on any white water. I've only been able to rent kayaks and finding them to buy has been very difficult in my area, especially used kayaks. The only thing I've been able to find in my range is a Otter Super Sport at Dick's Sporting Goods. Is this a waste of my money? If anyone knows a good place to start looking in my area I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You, Ryan Grayson ryangrayson (at) gmail (dot) com |
#2
posted to rec.boats.paddle
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Another Beginner seeking advice...
Ryan,
Looking for a cheap rec boat to start in, just get what you can afford, although I would look for used personally, often times someone will throw in the PFD and paddle. Rec'rs are all wide, stable, and pretty much handle the same, so no need to be too picky. Dick's, Gander Mt., look for sales if you need to buy new...OR oufitters that rent boats will often sell off the fleet at the end of each season, you may get something more in the line of a touring boat for the same price. wrote in message oups.com... My budget is pretty low. I have to keep it under $500 for a recreational kayak, paddle, and life vest. I would love to hear some recommendations. I live in northern indiana so I'm not planning on any white water. I've only been able to rent kayaks and finding them to buy has been very difficult in my area, especially used kayaks. The only thing I've been able to find in my range is a Otter Super Sport at Dick's Sporting Goods. Is this a waste of my money? If anyone knows a good place to start looking in my area I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You, Ryan Grayson ryangrayson (at) gmail (dot) com |
#3
posted to rec.boats.paddle
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Another Beginner seeking advice...
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#5
posted to rec.boats.paddle
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Another Beginner seeking advice...
Check the classifieds on www.paddling.net, and keep checking them-
you'll find something! Right now there's a Dagger "Cypress" with paddle and PFD listed for $500. On 6 Oct 2006 10:29:58 -0700, wrote: My budget is pretty low. I have to keep it under $500 for a recreational kayak, paddle, and life vest. I would love to hear some recommendations. I live in northern indiana so I'm not planning on any white water. I've only been able to rent kayaks and finding them to buy has been very difficult in my area, especially used kayaks. The only thing I've been able to find in my range is a Otter Super Sport at Dick's Sporting Goods. Is this a waste of my money? If anyone knows a good place to start looking in my area I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You, Ryan Grayson ryangrayson (at) gmail (dot) com |
#6
posted to rec.boats.paddle
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Another Beginner seeking advice...
Thanks for checking that out for me. I will keep checking the site.
I'm giving myself until March or April to find something. Maybe a good deal will turn up. Thanks again, Ryan seldom_seen wrote: Check the classifieds on www.paddling.net, and keep checking them- you'll find something! Right now there's a Dagger "Cypress" with paddle and PFD listed for $500. On 6 Oct 2006 10:29:58 -0700, wrote: My budget is pretty low. I have to keep it under $500 for a recreational kayak, paddle, and life vest. I would love to hear some recommendations. I live in northern indiana so I'm not planning on any white water. I've only been able to rent kayaks and finding them to buy has been very difficult in my area, especially used kayaks. The only thing I've been able to find in my range is a Otter Super Sport at Dick's Sporting Goods. Is this a waste of my money? If anyone knows a good place to start looking in my area I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You, Ryan Grayson ryangrayson (at) gmail (dot) com |
#7
posted to rec.boats.paddle
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Another Beginner seeking advice...
On 6 Oct 2006 10:29:58 -0700, wrote:
My budget is pretty low. I have to keep it under $500 for a recreational kayak, paddle, and life vest. I would love to hear some recommendations. I live in northern indiana so I'm not planning on any white water. I've only been able to rent kayaks and finding them to buy has been very difficult in my area, especially used kayaks. The only thing I've been able to find in my range is a Otter Super Sport at Dick's Sporting Goods. Is this a waste of my money? I've never heard of an Otter Super Sport and can't find any on Googling, but I have a regular Otter and it's great. I've had it since the late 80's some time. I don't take good care of my stuff and it's still in fine shape, with just some scratches showing. They're cheap. They're sturdy. They're pretty comfortable. Now I'd not recommend them for white water. I believe that mine claimed to be good for up through Class II water, but I prefer not to do Class II any more, so I have no idea. I know I've scraped over shallow rocks with it, dragged it to and from my vehicle over pebbles, turned it over and used it to sit on (ends only, center is too mushy from outside) when overnighting. I can get camping stuff for at least 3 days / nights in / on it. If you have a long bed truck, it'll fit right in there. Maybe have to be on a diagonal, but it'll fit. Ask around at places that have kayaks (other than Dick's, unless yours is an exception and the sales force there is both knowledgeable and helpful). Try to find kayak or canoe clubs in the area. Put up requests on any bulleting boards at local colleges and universities and grocery stores and read the stuff that's already up on them. Talk to a lot of people locally. You might luck out the way one woman did when I moved and had to get rid of a 17 foot hand made cedar canoe. I walked into one of my bosses' offices and asked if he wanted it or knew anyone who did, as he lived almost on the St. Croix river. He knew someone. I got rid of the canoe, she got a freebie. The Otter is a great little boat for any kind of recreational paddling. Fun. I think mine cost only $225 and I don't believe the price has gone out of sight in the intervening years. Lots of initial stability, pretty good secondary stability. Dunno how it rolls. Possibly like a hippo, as it's a bit wide, but in flat water, if you've got to roll, well........ -- r.bc: vixen Speaker to squirrels, willow watcher, etc.. Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless. Really. http://www.visi.com/~cyli |
#8
posted to rec.boats.paddle
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Another Beginner seeking advice...
Used rentals are no bargain in this area. Outfitters sell of 10 year
old canoes and kayaks for what they paid for them, ie book value. They tent to be pretty beat up. Renters don';t take care of them and employees toss the kayaks around like firewood. Everybody wants a canoe or kayak but few actually use them. There are thousands and thousands of these boats lying around on people's docks, in their back yards, or strung up in their garages. They seldom advertise them for sale. I've seen some good buys on the bulletin board at the local supermarket - "Canoe 17 foot ABS used twice. Paid $1200 asking $800" and even "Two kayaks with paddles, $100 each". But the trick is to convince one of the people to sell you one of these thousands of neglected kayaks. You can't wait for them to advertise one for sale. I once placed and ad in the local newspaper "Canoe wanted, any condition, will pay up to $200" and bought one of the canoes offered. I used it for a few years and sold it for what I paid for it. I'd recommend placing an ad in the newspaper to see if you can entice someone to sell you a neglected boat. |
#9
posted to rec.boats.paddle
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Another Beginner seeking advice...
Wm Watt wrote: Used rentals are no bargain in this area. Outfitters sell of 10 year old canoes and kayaks for what they paid for them, ie book value. They tent to be pretty beat up. Renters don';t take care of them and employees toss the kayaks around like firewood. Everybody wants a canoe or kayak but few actually use them. There are thousands and thousands of these boats lying around on people's docks, in their back yards, or strung up in their garages. They seldom advertise them for sale. I've seen some good buys on the bulletin board at the local supermarket - "Canoe 17 foot ABS used twice. Paid $1200 asking $800" and even "Two kayaks with paddles, $100 each". But the trick is to convince one of the people to sell you one of these thousands of neglected kayaks. You can't wait for them to advertise one for sale. I once placed and ad in the local newspaper "Canoe wanted, any condition, will pay up to $200" and bought one of the canoes offered. I used it for a few years and sold it for what I paid for it. I'd recommend placing an ad in the newspaper to see if you can entice someone to sell you a neglected boat. I recommend taking it one step further if you're bold enough and that's to do what I did about 8 years ago when I was looking for an inexpensive canoe, I walked around the neighborhood and took inventory (in my head) of all the canoes just sitting in peoples yards, carports, etc. I later started knocking on the doors of those who I felt had not used their canoe in ages (if at all) and on my third try I had me an dented up 17' Grumman for $100. I let them set the price with the old "well how much to do want for it" question. I was going to resell it later, but decided to just keep it chained up at a local lake where it's always there ready to go. It looks old and beat up but it floats and gets us out fishing when the whim arises and we don't have to bother hauling it around. |
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