[Magicrik]

Is buying a kayak like buying a car?
I mean do you pay...lets say $25.000 for your car new and once its left the show room its price has dropped to $18.000.
And you could of payed $18.000 around the corner....ok its might have done some Km's but still the same.
Anyway back to the kayaks.......is it worth buying a new one or just as good but cheaper to buy a used yak?

Theres so much to think about and you just dont want to grab the first one that comes long not if your paying $1000+
It not like it pocket change.
Anyway all this thinking is giving me a nose bleed :?

Thanks Rik

 

[Blaen]

Rik,

I was going through the same thoughts when I started to look for a Yak, in the end one of the deciding factors for me was the lack of a secondhand kayak market in Tassie.
So that drove me to new and I decided that if I am going to buy a new one I will save till I can afford the one I really wanted, hence my Hobie choice of the Outback Fisherman.
If you have a good secondhand kayak market in your city then go for it, it might take a little longer to find exactly what you want, but you will no doubt save money.

 

[rawprawn]

There is not much on a yak that can break or is subject to wear and tear such as you would expect on a used car. So long as the hull is in one peace it will still perform as new. If you can get a good second-hand yak at a reasonable price then this would be the way to go.

However yak don’t seem to devalue much so the price you pay maybe not much less than new in some instances. If you can save yourself a couple of hundred on a good second-hand yak. Then this is what I would do.

Having said that I just brought a new Yak, but this is because I got it for a second-hand price . I was intending to get a second hand.

 

[Dodge]

If you are patient enough to wait for the right yak, then buy second hand.

A visual check and a test paddle tell it all, and new ones lose value immediately same as a car.

 

[Milt]

Ensure hull is ok no deep scratches and noticable damage. If your patient enough you may come accross a bargain in the trading post etc. If at all possible have a test paddle to ensure its for you. The best piece of advice I can offer is to ask us all our opinion of a yak your intending to buy and we will give you the good and bad points of the yak. See which way it sways you? Price isn't the most important factor it what suits your needs as you will be spending lots of time in your yak?

Milt,

 

[Rod L]

Rik,
I bought my yak second hand from a canoe shop. After doing my homework and deciding which yak I wanted, I rented the yak for a weekend ($50) to make sure it suited me and then bought it (with the $50 rent taken off the price )
I've had no trouble with it. If you can find what you're looking for, then second hand is the way to go I reckon
Good luck in your search

 

[troppo]

Magicrik, while some good 2nd yaks can be found from time to time, life is not long enough to wait for the bargain of the century, if you know what I mean. I bought new because (1) hadn't seen any decent 2nd hand (2) hadn't seen many new ones I liked (3) found new one which I liked and cheap so asked for discount and bought it.

On the other hand, Scotty Beefs bought a fantastic yak 2nd hand off the forum. Awesome value.

Yaks don't depreciate the way cars do, so look at both new and 2nd hand, but don't take forever. There are fish in them creeks and oceans with your name on em and you don't want to die of old age.