Best time to buy is when you’ve decided
what you want and have the cash or credit to get it. Just do it.
I have found that the best time
is when the wife is in a very good mood.
End of season … and Jan - Feb …
… Can be good times to buy up here in NE.
In the fall, rental shops often sell off their rental fleet. And some people sell boats they bought at the beginning of the season thinking they’ll like kayaking, then realize it’s not for them, the boat’s wrong, etc. Some folks closing down lake or beach houses decide to get ride of that kayak someone bought a few years ago and no one seems to use.
Look on ebay, craig’s list, or local paddle club web sites.
Dealers start marking down new boats in the fall as well, and there can be good deals after the first of the year on left overs … dealers need to make room for the new models.
I’ve bought new end-of season twice, got good deals … last Jan bought a left over new glass boat at a pretty good price.
As stated, however, the best deal on the wrong boat for you can be a costly mistake … find the right boat(s) first … once you narrowed yourself down to a short list of boats you like, start looking for the deals.
End Of Season
Dealers have to meet quotas. At the end of a season you might get a good deal if you’re lucky enough to find a deal who is stuck with a boat that you happen to want. It’s kind of like buying snow skis. Your best bet on a deal is to buy before the dealer orders for the season. This way you can pick your color and at least save on shipping costs.
Give that man a cookie
Sage wisdom there.
Thats how I get most of my toys. Just got a raise, and it put the wife in a good enough mood that I got a sleeping bag and a life jacket! 
Usually between the hours of
10 am and 6pm. That is when most paddleshops are open.
Thanks!
Thanks for all the advice. I haven’t really been able to find any negative info on the Pungo 140, other than the fact it is missing a front bulkhead. I’m mostly doing flatwater lakes, so I’m not too overly concerned, if all else fails I’ll buy some float bags for the front. Thanks.
put a float bag in it
and paddle it!
Another pricing story
When I got my kayak, it was first on “clearance” for $499, and mine, too, was at a larger chain store. A few weeks later, it was at $450. When they put an orange tag on it at $400, I hugged it and my wallet until I could get it to the checkout counter.
That said, I really have to agree with a couple of posts above. First, make sure this is the boat you want. Second, if it is really the boat you want, are there any second-hand sources in your area like fleets or rentals that might sell one used? A used kayak is usually as good as a new kayak, and you don’t have to worry about putting the first few scratches in it. Plus, you can get a much better deal than the “clearance” price and have money left over for a nice paddle, PFD, sprayskirt, rack, etc., etc…
around here
here being the bay area, october seems to be the best time. Local stores sell off demos and have sales, and there are fewer people looking at the available boats from private sale, perhaps affording you more bargaining power.
mmmm… buying kayaks
Pungo Classic or 140
Great stability.
I think you should get it for no more than $400.00 though.
You will want bulkheads or something to displace water that may get inside.
Eventually you will want something sleeker.
Where are you? You could demo one from someone who has one or two.
Ask local shops about seasonal sales
My local outfitter does a “20% off everything” sale every October during the annual swap-fest, providing two good opportunities for deals - the discount from the outfitter and all the used gear from other paddlers.
Can’t Hurt To Ask
I would walk in ready to buy, and ask for $50 off. If they don’t do it, walk away. Next time they will take you serious.
I paid like $650 for a Pungo 120 with bulkheads and Phase 3 seat, but it was for Kathy and she wanted a specific color, and I was willing to pay retail to get it for her.
The Pungo is a really nice boat. It is very comfortable, and very fast and efficient for a 12’ boat.
My problem is things have not worked out quite as I thought. I figured if we went out in more challenging conditions, like the ocean, or Lake Tahoe, she would just take one of my more seaworthy, but less comfortable, SitOnTops, but she won’t paddle anything but the Pungo. I worry about it sometimes.
Has she been in the ocean in hers
I’m really curious. It will be two years before I can buy something more sea kayak style and I’ve been warned not to take the Pungo out into the Great Lakes. I have bulkheads also.
Has she been in the ocean in her Pungo?
What kind of safety precautions does she take before going out?
Actually my Pungo seems to handle choppy big inland lakes pretty well, but I have not purposefully gone out on choppy waters. Caution and too many warnings from folks who have more paddling experience makes me fearful at times.
I Would Advise Against It
My rule of thumb for a rec boat is do not take it into any situtation you can not swim out of.
For most peiople that would include the Ocean, or the Great Lakes. I have been in rough weather on Lake Michigan, and it can get pretty rough.
I guess my point is that Kathy excedes what I feel are the safe limits for this type of boat, especially since she has more seaworthy boats available to her.
But not having been a great role model in this regard, she doesn’t pay much attenion to my opinions on the subject…
I’m in Southern MN
I’m in MN… mostly the yak will be used for local potholes. I’ll see if I can give it a demo. Thanks for the advice on the Great Lakes and Ocean. Not sure I would ever want to try that with the WS Pungo.
When you have the money
Dogmaticus
Well
I’ve pretty much got it right now. Just been too busy to go and possibly get it.
have always respected Lake Mi
It has been my understanding that the Great Lakes are far more dangerous to swim off shore in than the ocean. I might be wrong but I thought two of the factors were the water temperatures and the lack of salt.
I’ve been batted around as a swimmer in both Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and thus far known when not to venture out into the waters on foot.
Hopefully your wife has some sense of what she can handle and what she can not. Some days the lakes appear tamer than others.
Oh now see what you’ve started…
– Last Updated: Aug-05-06 1:54 PM EST –
Don't be swayed by JUST a good price.
My father in law always used to say: "What's cheap is not good, and what's good is not cheap." But I suppose it depends what your definition of "cheap" is.
My best advice is do your research, paddle it, ask around, check reviews, decide it's the right boat for YOU, and then look for the best price (new, used, swapped, whatever).
You could easily get stuck with a boat you dislike, just because you were enticed by a great sale price. I know folks who have fallen into that category.
On the other hand, you could buy it, and whether you think it's your "forever-boat" or not, just paddle the hell out of it. Get out as much as possible for the rest of this season, get some experience under your belt, THEN sell it in the spring if you want to upgrade.
Chances are if you don't bash it around too much (like I do with my kayak in Lake Erie) you could get your sale price -- or pretty close to it -- back when you sell it as "gently used". Even if you sold it at a few less dollars than what you paid for it, just think: every time you used it, you saved a rental fee.
And then you buy an EVEN BETTER kayak.
OR..... keep the first one and have two kayaks. Then you can convert your friends into the kayaker-cult, just to keep you company! Bwaaaahaaaahaaaa!
Oh now see what you've done...I'm all giddy just thinking about the THIRD kayak I'm gonna get next Spring.
Happy paddling!
-- Ness