FS Digest

I’m not sure if it’s just my impatient mind set or I’m being stupid by not going to another dealer.

I placed an order for 2 Seastream Angler 120 PD kayaks back in July at a local dealer, paying 2/3 upfront. Wife and I were bit by our first time kayaking while vacationing and impulsive ordered.

I am a buy local guy however I’m not sure how long the average person waits before they cancel and goes elsewhere.

Have anyone else experienced this long of a wait?

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by yelkzjcrab2

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

That does seem to be a little long in terms of getting a product in hand! I can appreciate your desire to deal with a local "brick and mortar" business, and hopefully your contact can give you an honest update ASAP so that you are not kept in suspense any longer. If they do not, then it might be time to switch gears and seek an alternative source.

I have been known to drive hundreds of miles to deal with substitute choices if the situation demands it. I just shrug it off and make a fun road trip out of it and end up enjoying the adventure. Over the years, I have criss-crossed North America dozens of times for just such a reason and never had any regrets.

I bought a kayak about 25 years ago that took a full year to be built and delivered. Thankfully I had another kayak to use in the meantime. The factory I was dealing with had a huge backlog of orders at the time, and I just had to wait in line.

Good things come to those that wait is an old expression...so hopefully it will ring true for you!

Although it took nearly a year to take delivery, this kayak has become my all time favorite. This hull has about 6,000 paddling miles on it and was well worth the wait! Photo taken near Eagle Harbor, MI on Lake Superior.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I think that is becoming the norm on lots of things. I had to wait months on tractor accessory parts from a major dealer. They could not even give a projected date on a what should be an in stock grapple. I found the same backlog on other brand U.S. made units.

Bohanan66 Loc: Ohio

Paid two-thirds up front?? Sounds suspicious to me. You removed two-thirds of the dealer’s motivation when you did that. I ordered an Old Town PDL 120 last December from Austin Canoe and Kayak without sending any money. No kayak by April so I canceled, went on EBay and found one in stock from a small dealer in East Jesus, Pennsylvania who couldn’t sell it because he wouldn’t ship it. I drove seven hours each way to snag it. Well worth the effort. Look for a used yak.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

Every time I turn around things being shipped are delayed. It’s the new norm. Four times more expensive and longer wait times for delivery.

Pippin Loc: Palm Desert, Cal

I ordered from local dealer in San Diego in early October, and was told it might by 4-5 months for delivery, but got call in early November that my yak had been shipped from the factory, and I got it by mid November. I did put 50% up front, but no problem, and very happy with the product, and with the dealer, OEX in San Diego.

madonemike Loc: Southern California

Hi everyone,
I am not sure I should make this offer but I know an store owner in San Diego that has a direct tie to kayak dealers. Let me know directly if you need assistance.

Md

farmer tom Loc: stockton california

Covid 19 messed up the supply chain! I have gone to Bass Pro and half the shelves were empty. Maybe some
day things will get back to normal?

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

All my friends in business have been having delivery/ supply issues, from what used to be reliable and on time sources. Lets hope that this lack of manufacturing and delivery capability will end sooner, rather than later.

forrest r Loc: NE ohio

A small local machine shop in the town I live in needed work done on their building. I've been there off and on over a couple month span. One of the things they make is an aluminum rail for canoes. They have a heck of a time finding the aluminum channels used to make those rails. When they can find them it's another battle to get the labor to make those rails.

This 1 simple part has the canoe mfg backed up 6 months+ on their orders. They've tried finding other sources for those rails and ran into the same issues with other machine shops. Namely the lack of raw materials needed to make the rails.

I really don't see these shortages ending anytime soon. This is what happens when you rely on a global market. Another local shop that makes small grill parts has piles of finished products laying around. They get their packaging from Tiawan and it's on a 3 month+ backorder.

Ryp Hankins Loc: N Michigan

Same with the 2-seat mini bass boats. I wanted an 8ft’er for camping and had no idea the frustration in finding one. Even though Sun Dolphins are made 100mi from here, I ended up driving 525mi to Butler, Penn to buy one. Admittedly, these are crazy popular but the 2 or 3 companies making them can’t keep up.

BeaverTooth Loc: Branson, MO

Everything is in short demand today and kayaks are at the top of the list. I live in Branson, Missouri and we have a local kayak shop that handles some of the nations most popular brands. It is my opinion, after having shopped for kayaks for quite some time, that it is easier for me to spend some time calling around to the various shops that handle the brands that I’m looking for and simply take an opportunity as it arises, as opposed to putting in an order and waiting for that order to be filled and delivered.

The kayak manufacturers say that they are doing the best they can by way of delivery, but I believe that the wait time is absolutely ridiculous.

Oftentimes a kayak shop will receive a vessel it was not expecting or a customer will back out of the order before it is fulfilled. There are times when your local kayak shop has the perfect kayak on hand and all you have to do is gather the information and go make your purchase. Some kayak shops have no idea what they are going to receive in shipment the next week. Kayak show up that they were not expecting and I think that is an excellent way to make a purchase.

If I were you, after five months of waiting, I would go to that shop and demand a refund and start again.

Dan Singletary Loc: Keller, TX

I also had a long wait for my order from Austin Kayak, it was about 4 months to get my Old Town Sportsman paddle 106 but it was worth the wait. Really like the Old Town, solid and stable Kayak, been out in it about a dozen trips and caught fish every time. Like the fact I can stand up and stretch out, the seat is very comfortable as well.

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

DT ... Wow, catches fish every time ? What is the upgrade price for that ? I want one. All kidding aside, it's nice to hear you are enjoying your craft. As long as Old Town has been making small personal water craft, its not entirely unexpected that they do it so well. I think I would call it " the Albino Skunk "
Oh yeah......Welcome to the Stage... good to have you coming aboard

Oldfisherguy Loc: NE Kansas

I just returned from a trip to the gulf. There is a shop in Gulf Port, Mississippi called "Everything Kayak & Bicycle" They had about fifty kayaks in stock from Old Town, Hobie, and several other manufacturers. Also a huge supply of Kayak repair parts. I don't know if they ship.