Thanks. I have no familiarity with composite boats so I guess I’d better do some research so I know how to examine.
I have a 1984 Curtis Kevlar and S-glass canoe that should last 35 more years. I also have a Wayfarer sailboat made In 1971 before the USCG required a Hull indentification number. Some of the first fiberglass boat made are still afloat. The gelcoat protects the epoxy from UV damage. Many sailboat manufacturers have gone out of business because of the cost to make today’s boats, and the competition from the vast number of much less expensive used boats on the market.
Thank you. I’m going to try to go look at it. I’m also going to try to take a look at an Impex Montauk, also composite.
(I’ve been trolling Craigslist very patiently for months for good smaller sea kayaks, have come up with nothing in my price range, and now TWO!)
I have no idea how to compare these two boats and I’m not sure I’m going to be able to paddle either. If anyone has any thoughts on the comparison please share. Thanks.
(Maybe I should make a new post…)
Gel coat is fairly easy to add. To make it really nice includes some sanding, the part where I generally lose patience. But if there are no cracks underneath all any gel coat flaws in the fiberglass, likely could see that from inside the boat, it’s a fairly easy fix.
You do want to make sure that no fiber is left uncovered. Over the course of a paddle it can get wet and become an entry point for water into the kayak. I was in a rock surfing session with someone who misgauged a tricky spot and ended up stuck on a ledge where they kept getting hit by waves for probably five minutes before they found a way out. On the way home the the couple of places where the boat had taken a whack down to the fiber layer started seeping in water.
Thanks, Celia.
But I just realized, this boat has an ocean cockpit, and I’m worried it’s going to be too advanced for me. I have only gotten into one once, with people helping me. The whole sit-on-the-deck thing seems like it would be very challenging for me in any but the easiest situation.
What do you think? I’m a beginner. I’m enthusiastic but I want to be able to feel comfortable and I’m worried the small cockpit will require too much of me at my stage.
That’s a nice-looking boat! Coincidentally, though I did not buy that Shoreline, I did buy an Impex Montauk, which is said to be the same design as the Shoreline. And, I like it a lot. 
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@Doggy_Paddler that is a pic that Mike Nelson sent me because i have a shoreline fuego and have been in contact with him to gain some info on them as Valley kayaks are not the most communative 
this is my fuego with the old decklines. i will do a separate post with more pics
Very nice! The Shoreline Fuego was one of the boats recommended to me for a smaller paddler. What’s it like? Does it have an ocean cockpit? I did once see one for sale but it was too expensive for me so I never got to see it or try it out.
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yes it has a ocean cockpit but at 50yrs old and of slim build i get on with it i’m a newbie to sea kayaking well kayaking in general. i have paddled it a force 4-5 and the boat handles lovely…
my stats
5’6"
67kg - 68kg (147 lbs) (10stone 8lbs)
inside leg is 30"
here is a trial i did turned my fuego into a ergo
I like the boat. I’m about your size, a stone lighter and, I’m guessing , wider hips. Can I ask where you got it? Used?
i have 32" waist so need a little hip padding.
i bought it second hand… £400 about £500
the best bit is i joined a club i was using club boats and this boat came up for private sale else where so i bought it only to find out that the boat was originally the club boat
It came home again! Good score. The one I saw was more than twice that. I guess they are less common in the US than the UK.
other way round like rocking horse poo here but i found some LOL $800 about right i saw an advert for £750 about $900
but keep your eyes open for 1 that may need tlc mine needed a little but nothing to break the bank 
the work was done before i bough it so happy days there, all i fitted was new rear hatch seal £10 $12 which was a little dearer than what it can be obtained for but the seller had already sent it and wanted £15 for it i said i can get it alot cheaper so settled on £10 inc p&p
Yeah, I bought the Impex Montauk in 2019. I like it! But I am still scouting for another good used composite boat, and I always keep an eye out for the North Shore boats. Pretty slim pickings these days though. Hope you’re still enjoying your sharp-looking Fuego.
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Nice!
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Sean, I watched your video for the deck lines. Very nice. I may do that too. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
The North Shore Fuego has a cousin; The North Shore Freewater (Trek). Their brochure, from that company (prior to Valley owning it) states that the Fuego and Freewater are the exact same hull. The Freewater has no forward bulkhead or hatch - the aft hatch is the same as the Fuego. The composite build and workmanship is truly excellent. They’re tough little boats.
I paddled an Avocet and a Romany before deciding on this one. This is the best fit for my size. And so much fun learning to paddle it.
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don’t forget you need longer cord than the original…
what i did was get some old length of of thin rope tied it off then knotted it put through next conectionon kayak and did more knots so on down one side cockpit too bow, mark the rope then untied it all measured rope and doubled it, that was the front section and the did the rear same way…