My thoughts
Posted by: Photobug
on Oct-06-12 1:20 AM (EST)
I just bought a Carbon Fiber Current Design Extreme, a little over a year ago. It was used but in near mint condition with a paddle for $1600. It is the first sea kayak I have owned and really the first time I have been sea kayaking since 20 years ago.
At 19' 8" it is a beast to transport. I store it in the back of my house on a rack. The route through the garage and the sunroom is 19' 8.5" or it feels like it when I put it away.
If I could get similar performance in a boat 3 foot shorter it would be nice. But I got a lot of boat for the money.
I do believe SUP has taken a chunk of the industry but a lot of those people would not be on the water if it meant hauling a nearly 20 foot boat through the sunroom and garage. I don't know if the market is growing but the number of great new boats and manufacturers seems to be. There has to be a glut somewhere and I think this will affect the price of higher end but "old school" used boats first