I noticed that on the paddling.com site, when a kayak is discontinued, you can no longer access the specs for that boat. Why?
I can read the reviews, which is somewhat helpful when buying a used boat, but why not leave the specs visible as well?
That information was already on the website, so why not leave it there when the kayak is marked discontinued?
You can often look up the product catalogue for the specific year. For example: Wilderness Systems 2007 Product Catalogue. Then download the PDF.
I think it may lead to confusion about newer product lines. Nothing is ever really gone on the internet. Just need to know where to find it.
Thanks for that idea!
What are you looking for?
I was looking at purchasing a used kayak and wanted to compare it to another kayak I have.
I was able to locate the information on other sites, but it seemed to me that if Paddling.com is keeping the page, with the reviews, of the discontinued kayaks, it would help users if they kept the specs as well, and just indicated the kayak is discontinued.
What kayak are you looking to buy? Soneone might have one and be able to offer the info you need. The forum will only have info on topics of discussion. For example, I’ve posted and seen others post as well, data sheets on specific boats. That info would be in the archives, but it woukdnt be indexed unless you knew the topic. Too many discontinued kayaks to keep all the specs. I recently researched a kaysk paddle someone purchased used, and it was listed as a single blade SUP paddle. I though, no way that is right, further digging showed it was a discontinued double bladed kayak paddle, and the company branded a different paddle with the same name.
There are a lot of archived catalogs on the Web. Perception has all of theirs going back to the late 1990s. And I have found that if I do an on-line search for the brand name and model (even the year, if I can get it from the serial number inside or along the stern side of the kayak – last 2 digits are production year) that most of the time an old review will turn up (like in Kayak or Paddling magazine) that has all the specifications.
And, as was mentioned above, if you post a photo and the name/model of the boat on here, somebody will recognize it and weigh in. In the 15 or so years I have participated in this forum, I have always been able to get that information, even when I was trying to ID some pretty rare boats.
As to whether this site “should” keep some sort of database of discontinued boat specs, that really is not realistic. There have been hundreds of models of kayaks and canoes over the years, and I doubt that the administrators of this free site would be interested in that sort of effort. As you mentioned, you were able to find what you needed elsewhere.
I totally get where you’re coming from! I’ve seen that with other sites too, and it can be frustrating. When I was shopping for my used kayak, I really relied on the specs to make comparisons, so losing that info feels like a step backward. Maybe they think it’ll streamline the site or something, but it would be so much more helpful if they kept that data accessible.
I have 2000 CD catalog if anyone needs anything.
Such catalogues are valuable because models often remain unchanged for years. Typically, when anyone asks for specs on anything, a forum member has the details. My problem is sifting through files for archived product catalogues.
I also bought Sea kayaker magazines boxes of them. No clue how he afforded the shipping for what he charged me. Almost every issue they printed.
As others have mentioned, you can sometimes find the information somewhere on the Internet. But your point is important; especially when many of us buy used kayaks. It would be great if there was a central location to find such information. It would need to include both the year of manufacture and precise model name, since models often change specs while retaining the model name. Compiling the information would be a significant task. It is unlikely that those who manage this forum would be interested in stepping into that role, but leaving the specs on the site would be useful.
cheap especially for black friday.
Ultimate Showdown: The Best Two Budget-Friendly Inflatable Kayaks
Take the mfg. website and enter it into the waybackmachine.org
Select the year and choose a snapshot of the old website to go to the old website to look up your info.
I periodically have to do that for old models of brands I carry at the Store.
See you on the water,
Marshall Seddon
The River Connection, Inc.
9 W. Market St.
Hyde Park, NY. 12538
845-229-0595 main
845-242-4731 mobile
Main: [www.the-river-connection.com]
Store: [www.the-river-connection.us]
It would be cool if there was a database of old brochures and stuff. My other hobby is archery and I love vintage bows and there’s a page that they have compiled old brochures from tons of different mfgs back to the 40’s in some cases. Helps IDing and finding specs on stuff. That’s be pretty sweet if some how that was a thing here. Maybe some how they could be added to the applicable reviews page?
My brother was competitive in archery during the 1970s and held some records in the Northeast competition region.
I’m kinda more old school, longbow no sights or release. Just a stick, string, arrow and a small piece of leather to protect my fingers. All instinctual. Like throwing a baseball but I could never get that kind of accuracy. Heck, I probably can’t get that with my rifle. lol. Nice shooting!
I cant hot anything with a bow. He was shooting hunting bow, finger tabs and pin sights against target bows with release and optics, snd he was topping their scores. He’s equally good with a pistol.
Sea Kayaker Magazine article index (pdf file)
