Hard sell
Posted by: Waterbird on Oct-05-12 9:23 PM (EST)
What I notice about Craigslist ads for 17 and 18 foot kayaks is that they very often say, "Used once or twice, stored indoors for last three years" or something to that effect. I think that indicates that some people buy long kayaks because they dont really understand kayaks (especially speed) or their own needs. They get them home and figure out what it takes to transport and paddle them and they give up quickly.
"Inland in the Northeast" often is about the same as seaside, as the large lakes have near-ocean conditions at times. Still, people realize that you don't necessarily need a 17'- or 18' kayak for those conditions, so it's a hard sell. Some manufacturers are making seaworthy kayaks in the 13' to 15' range. Hardest sell is long kayaks in colors like black, white, and gray.