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Old 12-27-2009, 04:59 PM   #31
WhiteH2O
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 452
Join Date: Oct 1999
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Vehicle:
'06 Lexus GX470
'15 VW Golf TDI

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Quote:
Originally Posted by SailRacer View Post
I do not agree that you have to have an expensive kayak to have fun though (as stated in this thread), the kayak that I bought is the cheapest sit in kayak that you can buy and I read about thirty customer reviews about it and just about all of them were positive. As in any sport or hobby you will find people that believe that you have to spend a lot and buy the best to be ubber cool and fast and look hot. I don't believe that crap. You can take a great picture with a cheap camera and have a great time with a cheap kayak.
If that is what you got from what I wrote, you completely misunderstood what I was saying.

I think of it like mountain bikes, you can get a $150 Huffy, but they aren't made for real mountain biking and if you try to use one for it, it doesn't work well. They are still great for some people's uses for them, but not for most. The problem is that people want to get into mountain biking but don't want to spend $800+ on a good bike before they know if they like it. The Huffy has bad breaks, doesn't shift well, the chain falls off, is uncomfortable, and such. People might think that mountain biking isn't fun if they have only tried it on a Huffy.

The less expensive boats can be good for some people, but not for people who really want to go out and do real sea kayaking. They are fine for people who are happy with going 2-3mph and not going more than 2 miles at a time. If someone wants to paddle 5mph and go more than 5miles in a day, that 11' long and 27" wide boat is going to be really discouraging. I have sold kayaks in a retail situation and as a sponsored kayaker, and I have seen this exact thing happen many times.

More expensive boats aren't about looking "cool" and being super fast, they are more comfortable, more efficient, lighter, and better built. There is a happy medium for everyone, and that will be the least expensive boats for some people, and the most expensive carbon racing boat for others, but not many. At the least expensive end of the spectrum, an extra $200-$500 can be a HUGE difference in performance and value.

Also, just like the "what BOV should I buy" threads, everyone thinks that theirs is the best, and that often skews the reviews. Everyone who bought a certain kayak thinks it is the best one out there, and recommends it to everyone. Not saying that is the case with yours, but it often is for many things.

Again, like I have said a bunch of times, the only way to see what boat fits your needs, is to try as many as possible before you buy.
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