Whitewater Forum: Where to buy Kayaks locally

Where to buy Kayaks locally

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Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12102
Printed Date: 14 Jul 2025 at 2:33am

Topic: Where to buy Kayaks locally

Posted By: Mattleycrue76
Subject: Where to buy Kayaks locally
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 10:43am

Hi all

I'm new to this board and signed up in order to hopefully get some advice from some local paddlers. My Fiance has recently gotten into kayaking and since it's her birthday this week i was thinking about getting her a boat. Can you guys recommend any places locally that would have reasonable prices and inventory for white water kayaks? All the places that I've seen carry kayaks have usually had either the super cheap ones or sea kayaks only. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks

Matt

Replies:

Posted By: sub_merged
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 11:44am

The FSBO section of this site often has good deals on lightly-used boats. (Full disclosure: I have one listed there currently.)

Aqua Sports in Redmond is a great local resource for WW boats and gear. Northwest Outdoor Center on Westlake in Seattle often has some used whitewater boats and carries a mix of WW and ocean gear. Leavenworth Mountain Sports, Kayak Shed in Hood River, and Alder Creek in Portland are good regional options.

Posted By: mattwave
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 1:45pm

plus 1 for aqua sports I have been buying from charles for 15 years

Posted By: fastpaddler
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 5:08pm

I live in bham. Just bought a ww boat on craigslist for half price it's practically new. Yeagers sporting goods in bham. Western canoe and kayak in abbotsford, BC.

Posted By: rainpaddle
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 6:06pm

Nothing says I love you like a new Kokatat drysuit.

Rob

Posted By: Mark47n
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 6:37pm

Or a new Big Dog

Mark

-------------
You mean I'm supposed to wear something UNDER my spray skirt? Where's the fun in that?

Posted By: mokelumnekid
Date Posted: 27 May 2012 at 8:34pm

That is a good ques. without a simple answer. Most here would agree taking a boat for a test spin, even in flat water is essential. Sitting in it in a show room helps, but getting in the water is important. Fit is everything, and trying a few rolls can tell you a lot.

Fact of the matter is that despite all the boaters up here (PNW) the showroom scene is limited. Aquasports in Redmond is one place you can sit in one and also for a small fee demo a boat off site. But naturally their inventory is not exhaustive and there are some models, or even manufacturers that they don't carry. Not their fault, there is such a diversity of boats and the costs of shipping and storage makes overhead an issue.

For example when I wanted to demo a Liquid Logic Freeride, I was told that the nearest place I could do that was the River Store in California!

So I would suggest first establishing what type of boat is appropriate (river runner, play boat, creeker or x-boat that does some play some river running), then looking at the offerings in that limited range and seeing who has what in stock. Figure a trip to Aquasports and a trip to someplace that carries Liquid Logic (Leavenworth?) or even a trip to Alder Ck. in Portland.

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