RE: [Paddlewise] is the ann. symposium a good place to buy a boat ?

I think the symposium is a great event for beginning paddlers and can be a
good party but re: buying a boat, one has been officially limited to 15 min.
trial per boat. More importantly, if the weather is fair, one can't really
see how the boat will handle. There have been discounts available and the
*symposium* seems to be more commercial each year, but some shop owners
resist this and now refuse to sell at the event -- they want more
education/fun and less commercialism.

There are at least 2 shops in the Seattle area that sell their used
equipment close to that time of year. I believe Pacific Water Sports (PWS)
sells there stuff prior to the symposium and Northwest Outdoor Center (NWOC)
sells theirs in early Oct. 

Even if you can wait 'til Sept., I'd consider a used boat for your first
boat if you don't like it one can usually get close to what one paid for it
when one goes to sell it...

Eric

-----Original Message-----
From: miles to go [mailto:miles2go_at_konnections.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 12:15 AM
To: 'paddlewise'
Subject: [Paddlewise] is the ann. symposium a good place to buy a boat?


I'm thinking about heading up to Port Townsend for the 16th annual West 
Coast Sea Kayak Symposium. I've never been to one and wonder if it would be 
a particularly good opportunity to buy my *first* boat. I can stand to wait 
`til September if it is likely to be an ideal event for the occasion.
Are there typically good deals to be had on new boats or is it primarily a 
gathering of factory reps and used gear? Any insight into what this event 
is like will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Ron Wheeler
Utah

Cyclist (road, mtb, commuting & touring), skier (alpine & xc), snowshoer, 
hiker, backpacker and still feeling like it just isn't enough.

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