A hillarious article on the cost of kayaking brought to my attention by a future WaterTriber:
Hi All. Just wondering what is the cost to get involved in Sea Kayaking.
> Other than buying a boat (What type? size? construct materials? advantages
> of different materials?) paddle and a life vest, what else is there needed?
>
> --
How much time do you have???
A short answer is about $3,000 to buy your own gear using decent
beginner / intermediate level stuff. Some used gear will keep you in
this budget.
Boat $ 1,700.00
PFD $ 120.00
Paddle $ 150.00
Wet suit $ 120.00
Paddle floar $ 40.00
Pump $40.00
Tow Rope $20.00
HST $ 328.50
OK $2518.50 Oh,, Car racks $481.50
$3,000.00 to get set up. It is a lot of money but there are no green
fees, no expensive ice time at 4 AM No serious sports related injuries
on most of us,
This can be a one time cost.... But it won't be.
Sea kayaking is a very rewarding sport, It draws you in and costs more
and more. A wet suit becomes a pair of wet suits so you might have a
dry one, That becomes a dry suit then 2 dry suits because they do
deteriorate and seals burst leaving it in for repairs . Plastic gives
way to fibre glass and the boats get more expensive. Bay Bulls slips
into Cape Broyle, Smith Sound, Bonavista Bay and parts more remote.
Your Suburban SUV (10 MPG) becomes a VW diesel for 65 Miles Per
Gallon. That $900.00 1990 VW carreses a cradel with 3 flavours of sea
kayak. The rack is now worth $650.00 and the value of those three
boats is about $7,000. those $120.00 paddles have long since become
carbon fibre $300 or $400.00 each.
This is all well worth it as the whole coast is yours in a life long
sport.
Other costs may include some legal fees when the spouse figures out
this stuff has cost in excess of $12,000 Courses have cost over
$2,000.00 when no one was looking, Travel expences are a little high,
as you progress lawyer fees Alimoney and Child support can dig into
you kayaking budget.
Some times it is a good idea to get two boats to save the legal fees.
oh Don't be tempted to buy s double as it accelerates the advance
toward legal fees. ( Doubles have an alias of devorce boats )
Hope this helps
Alex
Cheaper than therapy!
