A mouth-watering thought right? But where do i start? Well, this blog has provided some links to where you can buy new kayaks and also the pros and cons of a hard-shell verses inflatable kayak. You might have a better idea what type of kayak suits your needs but what if you want to get a 2nd hand kayak for a start?
In this post i will be addressing what to look out for when buying a 2nd hand kayak.
INFLATABLE KAYAKS
As you have suspected, inflatable kayaks have much shorter life span as compared to the hard-shell kayaks. Some of the things to check for when buying an inflatable kayak is:
1. Does it leak? This is the most crucial point but it is also the most difficult to check. First of all you have to inflate the kayak up and then let it FULLY remain inflated for 1-2 days INDOORS and touch the firmness of the kayak. (You do not want the sunlight to heat up the air inside and cause your kayak to burst, like a balloon on a hot day.) A non-leaky kayak can stay inflated for a week and more without loosing any air, it remains firm. However a leaky kayak will deflate usually overnight and loose its firmness quickly. If it leaks then it is very hard to do patching on the kayak unless you have a patch kit and you know the exact spot that leaks. This can be determined by doing a "soap test"by rubbing soapy water on your kayak and look for bubble formation on the surface. It is extremely time consuming and tiring to do this.
Unfortunately when you are buying the 2nd hand kayak, this is something you cannot test on the spot. This puts the buyer at a big disadvantage.
2. Does it show signs of wear and tear? This is somewhat related to the first point above. Some tell-tale signs of a poorly maintained inflatable kayaks are rust on the metal parts such as the zipper and deep scratch marks on the hull. Lastly, check to see if any patch works have to done to the kayak, which may suggest previous leaking issue and potential of future leaks!
3. Do the kayak have a local distributor? This point is not so important in terms of warranty because most manufacturers do not cover inflatable kayaks for damages due to users negligence. However this is important because in case you need to do patching up work, you know where to purchase the kit and have someone guide you on the steps of fixing the leak.
HARD-SHELL KAYAKS
Hard-shell kayaks definitely make a "safer"purchase as compared to the inflatable because of its longer life span, which is usually 10 years and above with the proper maintenance and storage conditions. Things to check when buying a hard-shell kayak includes:
1. Does it show signs of wear and tear? It is more obvious and easy to check the hull of a hard-shell kayak as compared to the inflatable for signs of damage. Some tell-tale signs of a poorly maintained inflatable kayaks are rust on the metal parts such as the chain for foot-paddle kayaks and deep scratch marks on the hull, dents on the bottom of the hull, fading of color of the kayak. Prolong storage in the sun can also cause the kayak to become brittle and crack over time. You can ask the owner WHERE it has been stored previously and for how long in order to determine whether the life span of the kayak is affected.
2. Whether it has been modified? Modifying a hard shell kayak usually requires some light drilling for attachment of the accessories, which is acceptable. However AVOID kayaks that are heavily modified as that may affect its performance and sea-worthiness.
3. Do the kayak have a local distributor? Hard-shell kayaks have better terms of warranty compared to the inflatable kayaks and the local distributor can assist you on repair or modification works if you require help on that.
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