Hi I'm a rookie kayaker. I'm looking for some advices on
18ft fiberglass Current Design Solstice GT High Volume 1994 model. It is shown at a local ad for sale @ $800. a seller said a rudder cable was replaced last year. With 17 year old, is this fiberglass kayak would be OK in terms of healthy fiberglass and longevity of the material. How about the price? valuable enough? Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you. C

The boat's condition will depend on whether it has been stored inside when not in use and what sort of use/abuse the previous owner(s) have put it through. If your inspection of the boat shows no obvious weaknesses or flaws, the boat should be just fine. A close friend has a Solstice about that old, maybe older, and it's in wonderful condition. He likes the boat so much that he just had it professionally painted, and it looks like a million dollars. He's got two other sea kayaks, but prefers the Solstice for most occasions. The Current Designs Solstice is a tried-and-true design that has stood the test of time very well. I'm not aware of an upper age limit for a good fiberglass boat--my Dirigo was made in 1984 and is still in perfectly seaworthy condition, though now in the hands of a new owner.

I just bought an 08 Solstice GT for 1600 near perfect shape and a 275 dollar Werner paddle, 150 dollar dolly C-Tug, and a Yakima roof rack, cockpit cover, and nylon spray skirt. What condition is it in? The fiberglass should be OK if it was taken care of at all. There is one on ebay now for 1600 4-5 years old. Look on paddling.net I think it is for used boats and compare something comparable in age and type boat. Go with cash in had you can always go up if you make an offer. I love my Solstice I have now. New to the sport but not to fiberglass. Many older offshore race boats being restored now.

CD has always made quality boats. The Solstice, designed by founder Brian Henry (who has since sold CD to Wenonah), is the foundation model of the company. They recently redesigned it for 2010 so the pix you see on their website will are new.

A 17 yr old boat, however, may or may not have had quality care.

Fiberglass can last up to 40 years w. proper care. However, other parts of the kayak (esp. the moving parts) have a shorter lifespan.

Proper care means the kayak was washed down regularly (including footpegs, seat, skeg box or rudder assembly) and then letting them dry completely, in particular removing the hatch covers so that the glassed bulkhead compartments breathe.

People who really take good care for their fiberglass boats wash and wax them regularly, replace worn decklines and bungees ,lube moving parts w. appropriate lubrication (not WD40 LOL)and put 303 Aerospace Protectant on all rubber parts.

A kayak need *not* be stored indoors as long as it is kept dry, allowed to breathe and protected from UV rays. A Marine grade canvas tarp w. UV protection is fine, w. a full plastic tarp draped loosely over to repel rain and snow.

I do this w. both of mine- one was built in 1997 (yes 13 years) and puts many much newer boats to shame. The previous owner kept her in near mint condition. No one ever guess the age of that kayak, nowhere close. I paid $1200 for it in 2006, w. a brand new Snapdragon full neo skirt and IR Reggie backband.

Touching up w. gel coat on deck and hull is usually done every season or so. I'm talking about a well cared for boat, not an obsession '-)

I suggest you ask the seller any of those items, and see what he tells you. Ask if he is the original owner, too.

But most importantly, look at the boat w. a flashlight. Shine it from the inside out of all areas. If one area is lighter than another, it's thinner and may be weaker. If another area is quite a bit thicker, it may be an old repair. The repair may be good, just makes the boat heavier.

Check the seams. Pull on the deck lines and see if the pad eyes are firmly entrenched in their recessed.

Look at the inside layup - dirty, discolored? Flaking?
Stress cracks where the seat pan meets the body of the boat?
Are the seat towers (the side pillars) firmly in contact w. the sides of the boat. Is the cockpit coaming (the rim) smooth and intact all the way around? If it shifts - even a little - pass. You need that to be rock solid.

Look at the boats exterior layup - chips, cracks...Spider cracks in the gel surface are cosmetically annoying. But check the underside... if there is spidering directly beneath them then you are looking at structural damage. Can that be fixed, sure. But it takes time and talent to do structural repairs, and a lot of specialty products and tools.

Sit on the deck, before and behind the cockpit. Don't wham down on it, just put your weight there. Listen for creaks, observe if it flexes. It should not flex near the cockpit. A little flex near the ends is OK.

Put your hands inside the compartments, push your hand against the bulkhead walls. If they flex, OK, if they move off position, not OK. Easily fixable w. Lexel if they are the foam bulkheads CD used on many boats in their early years. Glass bulkheads that shift need to be retaped and reglassed, doable but not always easy.

Finally, CD puts a Hull Identification Number (HIN) on the outside at the very stern end. The last four digits are the month and year made. For example, my 1997 boat ends in 0797.

If the boat is indeed 17 years old, and is in good shape, $800 is a fair price, give or take $100 and assuming nothing comes w. the boat.

Happy hunting!

thank you so much for your sharing. Only problem is I have to drive about 2h20m to see the kayak. Before making any decision to get there I just want to make sure that I don't want go back home disappointed. I appreciate your thought! C

Sounds like you enjoy your young Solstice! Thanks for sharing! C

Wow! Thank you so much for your practical insight and experienced wisdom! I learned a lot from your insightful advice!
1. when I called the owner there was no pics on a craigslist, and he said it is several years old and well taken care of with normal scratch and wear. (He was fishing in ocean then)
2. when he came back he posted two photos on his ad.
3. I called him again then he said it is 1994 model he got it from someone, and he replaced a rudder cable at a boat shop.asking him to email close-look photos, but he was reluctant and never sent me so far. I don't know if I have to drive that long distance to check it out! Anyhow, this is my portion to decide. thank you so much again for your advice. I will keep and save your advice on my computer for further finding for my own nemo! thanks, C

I drove 4 hrs each way to look at a boat I had as a kid. I knew it was far from perfect and it needed major work. When I got there I saw I could not even begin to get it on a trailer without it collapsing. I dragged a flat bed trailer all that way too.

If he doesn't want to send some decent photos I personally would skip the trip if you are not keen on driving. Keep looking their are many out there and in this economy some good deals.

When he sends the picture check the date also if possible. My neighbor drove across a few states to look at a 45' boat. Pictures looked good but when he got there it had major damage and nothing like the pictures. They pictures the guy showed him were years old. 2 day journey for nothing.


http://www.paddling.net/Classifieds/forSale.html?category=kayaksell&state=

Hi Katabatic
here is an issue that I got from the seller FYI.

"kayak needs a good buffing, gel coat has a little oxzidation. no cracks, no leaks, kayak can be used right away. back of seat needs some repair, it is a small low seatback that is loose. It never bothered me because of my vest and I leaned forward more anyway. this kayak is effortless to paddle in the water."
what do you think? you can see some pics here. thanks. [img]http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/boa/1986944604.html[/img]

thanks again for your advice.
you can see some pics here
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/boa/1986944604.html
also this is what I got from the seller.FYI.

"kayak needs a good buffing, gel coat has a little oxzidation. no cracks, no leaks, kayak can be used right away. back of seat needs some repair, it is a small low seatback that is loose. It never bothered me because of my vest and I leaned forward more anyway. this kayak is effortless to paddle in the water."

any insightful thought would be appreciated.

Check it out cash in hand and wave it. Offer less you can come up. How long has it been for sale? Winter coming he may be looking to deal when your standing with cash. Great model boat. You can buff out a good bit on gel coat. My seat id lose also. It has two straps and bottom sits in a half round mating piece of plastic. If you buy it get a copy of his license on the bill of sale. Good Luck Check hatches if they are tight and seal Rear looks like plastic so find out if a new one is still available from CD.

Thanks for another advice. I think I should pass this kayak since there are too many things to consider. Anyhow it was a great opportunity to learn something good from someone whom never met before! Sincerely, C

Based on the pix and description, IMO (worth what you're paying for it LOL) I'd go have a look. Inspect it as described in my prior post. I'd suggest the same ritual w. any used kayak.

Nothing is as good as a personal inspection, but going off the seller's words:

If the gel coat has oxidized some - that's cosmetic. Buffing out takes some elbow grease,a few grades of automotive finish coat sandpaper (eg. 1200, 1600 or higher grit) and for the finish coat buffing compound. Use a pro quality orbital sander (can be rented) w. a lambs wool buffing sock, and lots of patience. Then wax it w. a marine wax, or even Turtle Wax Ice - something that goes on thin, and offers great UV protection.

As to the seat, it sounds like he means the backband, not the seat pad. This is a very small issue as it can be reattached, or swapped out for another one. Some people remove them altogether. They are not necessary. I like mine for
laybacks, and the back fastener cords are handy hangers for my hydration pack and/or 3L ditch kit.

I'm assuming there is some water somewhere you can try this out. During the tryout flip it over (it can be waist deep water) and observe how the hatches and bulkheads perform.

Go with cash and barter. The later into the season, the more the buyer's advantage.

Go w. a simple Bill of Sale in duplicate and if you buy the kayak write in the HIN. This is only because a lot of stolen boats show up on craigslist (not saying this one is) I also get a bill of sale cuz I insure my boats.

What do they charge for insurance? Is it added to homeowners? Does it just cover it for out of the water damage or theft? thanks!

Dog - go to the thread on insuring a kayak and read my post. It's all there. I'm leaving to paddle in NW Michigan this weekend, right now! Everyone have a great weekend!