From: Keith Wrage <keith.wrage_at_charter.net> wrote: >I'd appreciate info that anyone could provide by looking at the pics - >things like: >Model Name? Either a Sea Lion (now called Perception Eclipse)(17-1 to 17-2) or its smaller sibling look alike the Sea Lion S (now called Perception Shadow)(16-7 to 16-9). It is hard to judge size from the pictures but if I had to guess I'd say it is the smaller of the two. If it is a Sea Lion check the serial number as there was a yellow one stolen in CA in 2000. Its number was WEM99M79C595. Note: you can tell the month and year of manufacture from the serial number. In the above example C=march (the 3rd month) and the 5 after the C means 85 or 95 (the next two numbers confirm it is 95 in this case but some manufactures once used the last two numbers to denote the "model year" which they defined as the year that particular model first came out. Other kayak manufacturers interpreted "model year" to mean the year it was build 9the coast Guard thought of it like a cars designation where the model year usually proceeds the calendar year). Most manufacturers do it the later way now, but there still might be some confusion especially with older models if you use the last two numbers to determine the year of manufacture. >What is the black tube that appears to run along the bottom of the cockpit >up to the front bulkhead? Footpump tube? It's the "keep the bottom of the soft plastic kayak from popping inward--thingy". >General comments regarding Aquaterra boats of this vintage - this model >specifically...decent boat performance-wise? No comment: but if your friend is a big and strong enough buy the NWK Discover, at $950 is by far the better deal (as well as being a much nicer kayak to paddle). A ten year old plastic kayak may be near the end of its useful life depending mostly on how much sun it has gotten during its life. Chuck Holst wrote: >Things to consider when buying a 10-year-old Sea Lion include the following: >* Brittleness of the plastic. Depending on how it was stored, the plastic could >be more brittle than in a new boat because of UV degradation. This is not a "could be", it is more brittle, the only question is how much more brittle. >* Deterioration of the neoprene hatch covers, resulting in possible leaks. It >might be possible to replace them, but that extra expense should be considered >when negotiating the price of the boat. At $25 to $30 per neoprene cover. >* Bulkhead leaks resulting from deteriorated caulking of the bulkheads. >Important only if you get a lot of water in the cockpit, as after a wet exit. I >had to recaulk mine after only a couple of years. This is probably not due to the deterioration of the caulk but rather the difficulty of getting anything to stick well to polyethylene. If it stuck well at first it is likely the plasticizer migrating to the polyethylene's surface that has destroyed what bond had originally existed (and is also why the kayak is getting more brittle--because the plasticizer migrates out). Matt Broze www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Jul 10 2003 - 18:54:33 PDT
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