Buying a single
Amy Abbot
always rowed with a club, I am uncertain of the things I should be wary
of when buying a boat.
The boat is a 1992 version and is priced at $3700 WITHOUT oars.
I know no one can tell me if the price is fair without seeing the boat,
but I don't even know how much they run new.
How do Owens compare to other singles. My friends who have rowed Owen
doubles have really liked them.
Sorry if this is a bit random, but thanks in advance for any advice and info.
Amy Abbot
seaw...@u.washington.edu
Somebody
A new boat would run you 5000+
A really good single (like empachar (spelled wrong)) coats as much as
10,000
Basically you can pay anywhere from 2000 to 10000 for a single
fee...@nova.enet.dec.com
To qualify this a bit...
You can basically pay anywhere from 2000 to 6000 for a single. If you are
paying $10000 for an Empacher all of the following *must* be true:
- You have a very bad exchange rate between $ and DM
- You probably are not coordinating the purchase of the single
with any other singles (either through a distributor or youself).
(this means that the shipping charges are enormous).
- You did the second option above with a distributor that is ripping
you off!
Today, a top of the line Emparcher delivered to the States, including
shipping and customs should cost < $6000, if you do the smallest amount
of homework.
Another comment on the Owen. Amy, I take it that you are a small person
(flyweight single). One important point when purchasing a single is to
buy a hull that is *designed* [vs. built] for your weight. There are only
three "local" manufacturers that do this for a lightweight woman, that
I can think of: Owen (west coast), Graham King (east coast...VT) and
Kashper (Canada). All other hulls are designed for different weight classes
and then just cut down for the specific body weight for the individual. For
instance if you bought a Van Dusen, they have [neglecting the new "advantage
hull design] a lightweight, mid-weight and heavy weight hull design. Originally
the the mid-weight was the "lightweight hull" until about '86 and then they
came out with the current lightweight hull, this is designed for someone
around 155-165 #. If you were to buy this design they might cut down the
boat so that you wouldn't have as much freeboard and be affected by such
things as cross winds, but I can tell you that still a lot of the bow and
stern will be out of the water, since it isn't molded for a 120# woman. The
same can be said for Empacher (I believe) they have two lightweight hulls and
one+ heavy weight hulls *designed* for a certain weight class. I am not sure
that they actually have a design for lightweight women. I know that most
international lightweight womens boats are the K13 model which is the same model
used for lightweight men. They just take your weight and then cut the hull
down.
Others can probably post the manufacturers that I've missed...but off the
top of my head $3700 for a *top of the line* Owen flyweight in good condition
is a good price. I know that with exchange rates, etc that a new top of
the line Kashper will probably cost about 4500 $US.
Good luck.
-Jay Feenan
*Who happens to row a US made boat in the same price range...and does know
of people that have spent about $10,000 for new Empachers and placed them
on a rack next to the same model/year boat that cost around $5500.*
Bonnie M. Voigtlander
I agree that $3700 seems like a lot to pay for a used single.
My advice would be to buy a Kaschper 1x. As has been noted on the
net, Kaschper is one of the few people who make a true lightweight
shell. Besides, Kaschper is very easy to work with: delivery, advice,
parts, repair, etc.
For very little more that $3700 you can have a brand new boat. One
never really knows about a used single!
I row a midweight Kaschper 1x. My present shell is the second
Kaschper I have had. The first one fell off the trailer in transport to
Camden last fall. (Can't blame the boat for that!) I have been very
happy with both of these singles. Our club owns four Kaschper
doubles, three Kaschper fours, and one Kaschper 8+. We have had
nothing but pleasant experiences with these boats and with Kaschper
himself.
Call Jacob Kaschper at 519-227-4652 and talk to him before you
commit to anything! Good luck and happy sculling!
--
fee...@nova.enet.dec.com
Amy (and others) in my previous posting I stated...
fee...@nova.enet.dec.com
Thanks for whomever posted the note on Hudson. IN my previous posting
I stated:
fee...@nova.enet.dec.com
Gee I can't restate this...two replies have been munged...third attempt.
fee...@nova.enet.dec.com
Last try, summary is my previous info on lightweight womans singles, replace
Kasper with Hudson...last try:Thanks for whomever posted the note on Hudson. IN my previous posting
I stated: