RE: [Paddlewise] kayak reviews and advice needed

	It is funny how polyethylene kayaks have this reputation for
toughness
	that lures people into buying them (in addition to cheaper cost) but
in
	point of fact they are not as durable as fiberglass or kevlar
composites.  

Plastic boats don't last as long, but they are tough.  I hit rocks in my
plastic boat and get a little scratch.  Due to the flex in the material,
though, I don't ge a depressing gash as I would wiith my folding boat or my
Kevlar boat.

Also, there is the psychological factor associated with the cost.  I paid
around $900 for my Plastic Sea Lion.  So it just doesn't bug me as much when
I slam into a barnicle covered rock in that boat as opposed to my $3800
Khatsalano.  

I think its this psychological factor that has earned plastic boats their
tough reputation.  They are considered tougher because their owners are more
willing to abuse them around rocks.  I will always keep a ready-to-abuse
plastic boat in my fleet so when I know I'm going to bash into lots of rocks
-- either in shallow rivers or rugged coast lines -- I have a boat to use
without suffering mental anguish.

--Tim " proud owner of a two ton plastic Sea Lion"


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com [SMTP:rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com]
> Sent:	Tuesday, May 04, 1999 10:23 AM
> To:	paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject:	Re: [Paddlewise] kayak reviews and advice needed
> 
> dmccarty_at_us.ibm.com wrote:
> 
> > 
> > I have a Looksha IV and my wife has the IVs.  Both are kevlar layups.
> When we
> > started looking into sea kayaks we started with plastic but after much
> hmmming
> > and hawing we slowing escalated to kevlar.  One reason was the limited
> lifetime
> > on the plastic boats.  I have taken out rental plastic boats that
> suffered
> > greatly from oil caning.  They all suffered from one degree or another.
> I just
> > could not stand the thought of that happening to my boat.
> > It seemed to me that I was going to spend $2400 on two boats and within
> a very
> > short number of years I would be looking for a new boat.  That was to
> expensive
> > for me.  Hopefully others will comment on my impressions of plastic
> boats.
> > 
> > Another was weight. 
> 
> It is funny how polyethylene kayaks have this reputation for toughness
> that lures people into buying them (in addition to cheaper cost) but in
> point of fact they are not as durable as fiberglass or kevlar
> composites.  Plastic boats suffer from: oilcanning from being on
> roofracks or resting uneveningly on a beach; scars and strands of
> plastic that hang from the bottom from dragging them around that also
> slows them down on the water; and the relatively short lifespan expected
> of them before they get too brittle to repair easily are all points that
> get lost in the illusion of indestructability.  Then there is the weight
> factor.  They weigh a ton.  Take a look at Sea Kayaker review of
> kayaks.  The manufacturer says his boat weighs 55 lb.  SK mag puts it on
> the scale and it is 66 lb.!!!  And, at least in some of the plastic
> boats, a lot of the weight for some reason (the way the molds work,
> whatever) is at the ends; so when you pick one up and you don't have it
> perfectly horizontal, you start getting a pendulum effect making the
> carry even more difficult in addition to sheer weight.
> 
> While kevlar is expensive, you can certainly shop around.  Some
> companies offer their kevlar and fiberglass boats at a lot cheaper price
> than others.  Take SEDA for example.  Prices on them tend to run as much
> as $500 cheaper than their counterparts coming from other
> manufacturers.  There may be a model from SEDA that suits you.  Then
> there is Dan McCarthy's further comment (which I snipped) about going
> around to demo days and symposiums.  Often these exhibits offer boats at
> 10-20% off list price which could make a difference or help you buy a
> nice paddle.  Then, if you can wait until the end of the season, many
> kayak stores offer significant end of season sales to reduce their
> inventory and later bring in next year's models.   I know around here in
> the NY area, some of the shops drop prices $800 or more on a $2,000 or
> so boat, perhaps not of the greatest colors but a nice savings.  Also,
> some outfitters do sell off parts of their fleet at the end of the
> season and you can pick up a good fiberglass boat then at pretty close
> to list price.
> 
> Unfortunately, if you are looking for a folding kayak, there are seldom
> any end of season sales as people will still buy them in winter for
> travel to warmer climes and dealers often are not stuck with just a
> local market pool as they can ship 'em by UPS anywhere.  Only Folbot
> offers any such sales in the Fall.
> 
> 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."
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
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