Re: [Paddlewise] Cost of Kayaking

On Fri, 05 Mar 1999 15:39:01   Steve Cramer wrote:
>Mel Grindol wrote:
>> If you are starting out you may not _want_ a plastic boat but you should get one to learn in.  
>
>One reason to get a glass boat is weight. But consider the following
>scenario:
>
>You (180# (well, me, if not you))

Close enough, say about 185#.

> are paddling along in your plastic
>boat (65#) loaded with gear (60#), food (20#), water (25#), and snake
>bite medicine (1l). That's 350+ pounds you have to motivate. Suddenly,
>your fairy godmother appears in the air above your bow hatch. "You are
>working so hard," she says. "How about some magic? I can wave my wand
>and reduce your load by 20 pounds." 

Doing a little research I found the average weight of 10 plastic touring boats (WS Epic, Sealution II; Dagger Atlantis, Magellan, Apostle; Perception Sea Lion, Shadow; Necky Looksha IV; CD Storm, Squall) to be 63#.  The average weight of 10 fiberglass boats (WS Shenai, Sealution, Arctic Hawk; Dagger Sitka; Perception Sea Lion; Necky Looksha IV; CD Solstice GT, Solstice GTS, Gulfstream, Expedition) to be 53#.

That is only a 10# difference.  Over 350# that is only a savings of 2.9%.  For a beginner is that really going to be noticeable?

>"That's not much," you say. "What's it going to cost me?"
>
>"About $1200. But your boat will be so much prettier. Of course, you'll
>also have to learn to do boat maintenance."

Which you will need to know how to do because you don't know as much how to keep from banging the thing around.  Wouldn't a beginner be better in a plastic boat?  It's cheaper to just get into the sport.  If you buy one based on your initial skills and then outgrow it you're not out big $$'s.  By the time you are good enough to notice the impact of fiberglass (in its better hull shapes and performance) you will know more exactly what you are looking for and what you can handle when you go shopping for that boat that can last a long time.

No, that plastic boat doesn't look as nice or perform as well but for a beginner who's just damn happy to be on the water it is fantastic.


>Do you....
>   (A) fork over the $1200?
>   (B) swat her with your paddle?
>   (C) ask for a date with Cinderella?

Since my wife reads this list I can't say C.  :)

I'm too polite to swat a woman.

How about I take that $1200 and buy two Gore-Tex dry suits (one for my wife, one for me)?  We may not look pretty in our plastic boats but at least we'll be alive. :)

>Steve (but that Arctic Hawk is so nice)

Ah-ha.  The Arctic Hawk was the one anomaly.  At only 46# it was less than even the other fiberglass boats.

Don't get me wrong.  I realize that fiberglass boats are superior and fully plan to buy one in a year or two.  But plastic boats have their place too.  Especially the ones that are full fledged sea kayaks.  The two boats we have are a Necky Looksha IV and a Perception Shadow.  Quite capable boats.

Mel
---
There are three types of people, those who can count and those who can't.




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