rcurry
March 11th, 2010, 00:47
You have seen the threads asking - what is the best kayak, paddle or lifejacket, etc. for the intended purpose. I believe learning what not to invest your money in is as equally educational.
I have had only one experience so far of a truly bad purchase. It was a brand new generic (and I do mean generic) 10 ft recreational boat that had no brand name on it. That should probably have been a clue. I put it on my credit card by phone for a friend (who was temporally short on funds and wanted that really great priced boat). We both looked at the boat earlier on a shopping trip and it appeared fine. It was only a basic boat with the bonus of a dry storage pot but sadly the store didn’t have the option of testing it on water.
The boat was a true horror on the water and would not in any way even pretend to track straight. After three different people attempted to paddle it on various outings, I decided I had to see what the problem was.
After trying to paddle this piece of useless plastic I opted to throw up my personal white flag of surrender. Getting this thing to track in a straight line was not within my abilities no matter how much I wanted it to. I would not wish this boat on anyone. Although after my friend paid me for the boat they did unload it on some unfortunate person at the famous 127 yard sale. Hopefully the person who purchased it can successfully use it for sledding in the snow, as a huge blue flower pot or to be a water trough for a herd of pigmy goats.
What has been your worst paddle fund investment?
I have had only one experience so far of a truly bad purchase. It was a brand new generic (and I do mean generic) 10 ft recreational boat that had no brand name on it. That should probably have been a clue. I put it on my credit card by phone for a friend (who was temporally short on funds and wanted that really great priced boat). We both looked at the boat earlier on a shopping trip and it appeared fine. It was only a basic boat with the bonus of a dry storage pot but sadly the store didn’t have the option of testing it on water.
The boat was a true horror on the water and would not in any way even pretend to track straight. After three different people attempted to paddle it on various outings, I decided I had to see what the problem was.
After trying to paddle this piece of useless plastic I opted to throw up my personal white flag of surrender. Getting this thing to track in a straight line was not within my abilities no matter how much I wanted it to. I would not wish this boat on anyone. Although after my friend paid me for the boat they did unload it on some unfortunate person at the famous 127 yard sale. Hopefully the person who purchased it can successfully use it for sledding in the snow, as a huge blue flower pot or to be a water trough for a herd of pigmy goats.
What has been your worst paddle fund investment?