Bob Denton wrote: > > I purchased a used K-Light in excellent condition with a new combing,new > spray skirt, new sea sock and repair kit for $1100 postage paid. I could > have purchased a 4 piece paddle at a significant discount at the same time. > > So...assume the going rate for a good used boat (usually with paddle, skirt, > sock and pfd) is around $1400 > > You could sell it in a heart beat for $1100 after a summer's use...net cost > is $300 or 20 days to break even. In addition one could probably sell it > quickly for $1200 or even $1300. I'm sure Ralph will confirm the numbers. I think that Bob is right on the issue of buying a used foldable for extensive use for a season and then selling it. Used prices vary but you do see patterns and the pattern is that x model from y year will go for a certain price in a current market. That price will hold for a few months. So you could buy say a 1997 K-Light for $1,400 use it until August or Sept. and then turn around and sell it for $1,400 or go for a quick sale by offering it at #1,200. You can get that #1,400 price but you may have to wait. Folding kayaks don't have a "season" in the sense that there are end-of-season sales. Colder weather doesn't affect the market as people buy them just as vigorously then for taking to warmer climes. What I have seen in the folding kayak market are waves that are sometimes hard to explain. About a year or so ago, I had numerous used K-Lights listed in my newsletter's classifieds page. Some people would call or email asking if anything was wrong with the model. There wasn't anything wrong. It just happened to be and for some of the used boats, I knew of other circumstances such as a guy whose travel business had gone belly up and needed cash or a woman who was selling to help pay tuition for a daughter, etc. Now there is a plethora of Feathercraft K-1s in my classifieds. The reason there is clearer. In 1998, the company did a complete overhaul of the model, so much so that it really qualified as a new one. The bow was reshaped to resemble the sharp entry of the Khatsalano, length increased, frame revamped in several places to effectively make assembly easier, new deck material that is lighter and tougher and contributes to easier assembly, etc. So suddenly a bunch of older K-1s hit the market as people seek to upgrade to the newer version. But there were some 1998 models also in the classifieds. I don't know why but people sometimes buy in great enthusiasm choosing what they perceive as the best model and then decide they don't like kayaking afterall. > > Rental makes sense if you need the boat for a week or maybe two and you > won't use it ever again, or if you want to seriously test paddle one of the > more expensive boats. Yes, that is true. Besides Lyle Hancock of Folding Kayak Adventures who rents at http://www.foldingkayak.com you may be able to find dealers who will rent for a few days if they are not anticipating using their demos during that period. Lyle's rates are a bargain and I know he sells from his rental fleet as well as new boats as he has become a dealer, I believe. > > K-Lights are so easy to sell that they are used as currency in some 3rd > world countries, and dowerys in others... That is absolutely true for 3rd world countries (although we at Paddlewise prefer the PC term, developing countries or newly emerging economies, Bob.) The K-Light makes an excellent portable bathtub, lobster tank, wash tub, etc. And when not being used for such purposes, the hull makes an excellent hammock while a frame half stood vertically forms a sturdy tripod for holding a cooking pot. 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.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Jul 09 1999 - 06:58:06 PDT
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