A friend is looking at buying a used boat - found a plastic Aquaterra for sale. Owner says about 10 yrs old, approx 17.5' long, with rudder, not sure what model it is. I haven't been able to look at the boat personally but have a couple of pics - which I placed on the web at: http://webpages.charter.net/wrages/usedboat.html I'd appreciate info that anyone could provide by looking at the pics - things like: Model Name? What is the black tube that appears to run along the bottom of the cockpit up to the front bulkhead? Footpump tube? General comments regarding Aquaterra boats of this vintage - this model specifically...decent boat performance-wise? Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge - Keith *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Forgot to mention - used Aquaterra is priced at $650. Seem reasonable? Keith *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Keith, The pictures don't appear on your site, but judging by your description, it is an Aquaterra (now Perception) Sea Lion. The black tube is a keelson, or hull stiffener. Poly boats can be a little floppy, and my 1987 Sea Lion was slightly hogged -- the ends were lower than the middle. I was told that this happened as the hull cooled after it was removed from the mold, and that the original from which the mold was made was slightly rockered. The Sea Lion was my first kayak, so my memories of it are a bit dim now, but as I recall it was a decent beginner's kayak. It was fairly fast, had good storage capacity, felt slightly tippy to a novice, but had good secondary stability. It is hard to hold on edge, however, and is not the easiest kayak to roll. Once the gunwale dips below the water, it wants to capsize fairly fast. 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. * 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. * 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. Hope this helps, Chuck Holst 1995 Romany Explorer *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Keith, looks like a Sea Lion to me. Good, roomy, stable and seaworthy, but weathercocks like crazy without that rudder. I have the smaller sister called Scimitar, wich paid $350 a year and a half ago. The black tube is for structural stiffness, all of that kind has it. It's become my boat for the guests as I paddle a Nordkapp. Best regards. Fernando ./ -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net] On Behalf Of Keith Wrage Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 4:00 AM To: paddleWise_at_paddlewise.net Subject: [Paddlewise] Used Aquaterra inquiry A friend is looking at buying a used boat - found a plastic Aquaterra for sale.... *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "Matt Broze" <mkayaks_at_oz.net> << 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. . . . This is not a "could be", it is more brittle, the only question is how much > more brittle. So, I've got a beloved plastic boat. I suspect, being a fleet boat, that she spent the first two years or at least paddling seasons, on a trailer, aka. in the sun. I bought her in Feb of her second year of form. I've kept her under some kind of cover ever since then. She has spent some days in the sun on the car and some days in the sun on the water, of course. Does anyone have an estimate of how long a boat is safe with, say 30 summer days and 30 winter days (Washingtond DC area) in the sun? > > >* 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. Well, I love my Breeze and just spent $40 for a cover for her rear hatch. Not a cheap date <G>. Frankly, the only sea lion I ever paddled was a bit like paddling a bath tub, but the guy who bought her adores are. Besides, they look great on your car. Lots of them by different names are out there. Joan *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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