Quote:
Originally Posted by AlphaYankee
For someone new to this sport, would it be wiser to purchase a plastic (&cheaper)kayak in the fisha 480 over the fiberglass Profisha 525?
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For someone NEW TO THE SPORT I think the plastic option is the better move. Not even necessarily the Fusion, but an inexpensive plastic kayak that can easily be resold if the user decides they do not enjoy or have the time to part take in the sport.
My reasoning for the above: There is not much of a market for used paddle kayaks in so cal, you can have a pretty low upfront investment on the used market and quickly resell for similar to what you paid. If one were to buy the fusion for about 1900 bucks new, and then decide he/she didn't like it, the resale would likely take a 50-60% hit "right off the lot" for lack of a better expression.
The PF525 (or any of the glass boats) leaves you in the same predicament, although its a much more expensive option and the resale rate is worse because they are such a specialized kayak. I don't think you will find many who are willing to pay even half of what you paid new for the pf525. Its a pedal dominated market.
The reason I mention resale is only because you mentioned that this is in regard to a new kayaker. If this person were into kayaking, and knew her or she were going to be spending alot of time on the water and had a better idea of what they wanted in a kayak from experience, then the resale value would be less weighty in the decision making process.
For my money, as a new kayaker I would look around for a used ocean kayak (Trident), Jackson Kraken, thresher 140, or similar (these are about as close to the stealth as you can get as far as width, length, functionality). I think you will be able to find something for a much more reasonable price, that wont cost as much to get out of should you not enjoy kayaking as much as you anticipate. You will be able to try the sport on a kayak that is kind of similar to those in question and then if you decide you want to make a larger investment revisit the comparisons between the fusion and the glass kayaks.
If you are absolutely dead set on buying new, Tray is offering demos of his Fusion 480 in long beach on the weekends. I think I shared his info with you a week or two ago. I don't know anyone in so cal with a pf525 to demo unfortunately.