Jackie has asked me to report on this show. It was discussed on rec.boats.paddle as not being what it used to be, full of stuff from the Jersey Paddler store, not worth going to, etc. I disagree. The show does contain the bulk of the stuff from the store. BUT with a major difference that would be worth it to any one seriously buying gear and boats: the manufacturers all had their people there. That means you can talk to someone other than a clerk or rep to find out a lot about the products and get your 2 cents in that make for better products in the future. For example, the principal owner of Wilderness Systems was there along with a number of people who actually make the gear and boats. If you were in the market for something, you would get a pretty good idea of differences in models from them. The same with Feathercraft which had two individuals all the way from Vancouver. They both make the boats. You would have gotten a lot of insights. And not to blow my own horn, but I was there. I am impartial regarding the brands of folding kayaks. Anyone who came and asked got a low down on the strengths and weaknesses of the Feathercrafts and a similar run down on competitive folding kayak brands. Plus advice on accessories to get and not get. Also, a number of clubs were represented there. In a casual walk around you may have discovered some group you might want to paddle with. And info on where to get lessons. I discovered one that I will join...should have done so then but got waylaid into other things to do there. A friend of mine had a problem with her paddle and paddle style and was able to discuss remedies with several paddle manufacturers that help point toward some solution. Someone else was having a problem figuring out what to do with his new Yakima racks and was contemplating buying the TLC type cradles. I told him that the simple pads work just as well and that saved him some cash. That kind of exchange was going on throughout the weekend, as masses of paddlers met each other and the guys and gals that build the equipment they use. A couple seeing this on r.b.p, wrote privately to me telling me that they set out to buy one model of a a particular brand of boat but in talks to the manufacturer (not a sales rep) found that another model would be better. And then in talking about Ainsworth paddles for awhile with someone very knowledgeable, discovering it was Helen Ainsworth! BTW, I got not a cent from Jersey Paddler to be there (I was one of the speakers...on folding kayaks). The only break I got was not to pay the admission fee. Big deal! It is not at all like walking into the store. Yes, it has changed from 20 years ago when it was run and organized by the clubs and had several stores represented along with some manufacturers. Could it be better, of course. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Apr 02 1998 - 05:59:38 PST
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