In an ideal world, I could breeze into a kayak store and write a check out for the best, brand new kayak in the store.
However, my checkbook can't cash that check so I'll have to buy a used kayak. But, I have no idea on what or how to examine a used kayak. And, I understand that since these are used kayaks, there might be some problems- it'll be worn down or scratched or something might need to be replaced. But, I don't know when those issues are acceptable for that price and when you should avoid the kayak no matter how low the price may be.
I've tried looking up this information on youtube, read different articles, etc. and I still don't really know what to look for or look at. If I find any information, it tends to be some jargon that I don't really understand or something vague. At one point, it felt like I needed to know how to build a kayak in order to know what to look for. So, you guys are my last hope.
Ideally, I was looking for pictures side by side of what's okay vs. when its not okay. You're supposed to expect the bottom to be scratched from people dragging the kayak, but when does the amount of scratching become a concern? When does a scratch become deep enough where I should be concerned?
I even tried the local specialist kayak store, but they told me to go to their kayak rental site to look at their used kayaks. And, at the kayak rental site, the worker there really didn't know anything about kayaks. If he could have walked me through the condition of their used kayaks and which ones were in better shape than another, I might have just bought a used kayak from them. Some of them looked pretty beat up to me and heavily scratched. (I've read that you can get rid of some scratches so why wouldn't the store try to eliminate that scratching before they sold it?) Can I assume if that kayak store deems them acceptable to sell in that condition, then other kayaks on Craigslist in that same condition should be fine?
As a newbie, should I look at fiberglass or plastic kayak? I've heard that plastic kayaks are tougher so I figured there might be less that could wrong with a plastic kayak. But, then I read that plastics have shorter lifespan, especially if they're stored outside. (Does this mean its not an issue to store fiberglass kayaks outside?) I also read that for plastic kayaks, you should look to see if the color has faded. But, how much fading is acceptable? Even then, doesn't it depend on the original color where some colors will fade more than others even both colors were out in the sun? I've read that sunlight can make plastic kayaks brittle, but how would I test that?
What are the expected lifespan for a platic and fiberglass kayak? If I know that and know how old the kayaks already are, then I can figure out how much longer the kayaks should last. Anything else I need to look at?
However, my checkbook can't cash that check so I'll have to buy a used kayak. But, I have no idea on what or how to examine a used kayak. And, I understand that since these are used kayaks, there might be some problems- it'll be worn down or scratched or something might need to be replaced. But, I don't know when those issues are acceptable for that price and when you should avoid the kayak no matter how low the price may be.
I've tried looking up this information on youtube, read different articles, etc. and I still don't really know what to look for or look at. If I find any information, it tends to be some jargon that I don't really understand or something vague. At one point, it felt like I needed to know how to build a kayak in order to know what to look for. So, you guys are my last hope.
Ideally, I was looking for pictures side by side of what's okay vs. when its not okay. You're supposed to expect the bottom to be scratched from people dragging the kayak, but when does the amount of scratching become a concern? When does a scratch become deep enough where I should be concerned?
I even tried the local specialist kayak store, but they told me to go to their kayak rental site to look at their used kayaks. And, at the kayak rental site, the worker there really didn't know anything about kayaks. If he could have walked me through the condition of their used kayaks and which ones were in better shape than another, I might have just bought a used kayak from them. Some of them looked pretty beat up to me and heavily scratched. (I've read that you can get rid of some scratches so why wouldn't the store try to eliminate that scratching before they sold it?) Can I assume if that kayak store deems them acceptable to sell in that condition, then other kayaks on Craigslist in that same condition should be fine?
As a newbie, should I look at fiberglass or plastic kayak? I've heard that plastic kayaks are tougher so I figured there might be less that could wrong with a plastic kayak. But, then I read that plastics have shorter lifespan, especially if they're stored outside. (Does this mean its not an issue to store fiberglass kayaks outside?) I also read that for plastic kayaks, you should look to see if the color has faded. But, how much fading is acceptable? Even then, doesn't it depend on the original color where some colors will fade more than others even both colors were out in the sun? I've read that sunlight can make plastic kayaks brittle, but how would I test that?
What are the expected lifespan for a platic and fiberglass kayak? If I know that and know how old the kayaks already are, then I can figure out how much longer the kayaks should last. Anything else I need to look at?
