RE: [Paddlewise] Costco selling kayaks

I think I need to know a little more in order to understand your point of
view.

Kevin Wrote:

> When we buy kayaks from kayak stores, the
> salespeople always give out information on required sagety gear and stress
> the importance of instruction. There is a lot of basic knowledge that we
> take for granted that the average Costco buyer would never know, nor be
> able to learn from the salepeople at Costco. Am I wrong to think that
> Costco could be directly biasing the kayaking fatality statistics in the
> wrong direction?

Would selling kits or plans for stitch & glue or stripper kayaks fall into
this category as well? As a novice myself, I received zero safety related
information in the kit I bought. Based on this, I think there might be
enough information available to determine if there is a higher incidence of
fatalities in kit builders who receive no initial safety information vs.
commercially built boats sold in kayaking stores.


> Has anyone seen the kayaks that are being carried by Costco? I have only
> seen a picture in the newspaper. They are fiberglass, with an extra large
> closed deck cockpit (like a keowee) and a rudder. About 15' long I think.
> I would like to know what the performance of these boats is like, and also
> how much they will cost. I am worried that this might lead to problems
> with total novices buying an advanced kayak with no instruction or
> practical information.

I hope you didn't mean to include cost in your concern.

>  It's a really good article, and worth reading. But seriously, how many
> Costco derived kayakers are going to learn about rescues and other aspects
> of closed-deck boating? I think this sea kayaker article describes a
> person who would self-learn MUCH more than the average costco shopper. Of
> course, the counter question is how many costco derived kayakers will ever
> get themselves into such a situation where those skills are necessary for
> survival? And will costco kayakers be any more likely to get into trouble
> than kayakers who get their boats from other sources?

I think you ask some valid questions...But I'm conflicted in my views on
this. Some of them are selfish. For example, if kayaking becomes more "main
stream", then costs will likely go down. $300-$600 for a dry suit? $100 -
$300 for a paddling jacket? $80 for a length of rope and fanny pack? We're
lucky anybody owns any safety equipment at all. Making kayaking available
only to those who can afford high dollar safety equipment is wrong. The flip
side is I'm willing to pay what I need to feel adequately prepared.

Undecided on the issue,

Woody


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