BUY OR NOT TO BUY NORTHSHORE ATLANTIC

[Lock and Load]

CAN ANY GIVE ME 10 REASONS TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY NEW. £670 NEW
WHAT OTHER CHOICES?

REGARDS MY SALTY SEA DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MarkEb]

£670 new. Where from? At that price I think that's one reason to buy. Have you paddled one yet?

Mark

[steveT]

I'm guessing you are talking about the rotomoulded model for that money, I had one on loan for two weeks from Brookbank, it's a no nonsense boat, seat was solid, backband wasnt too clever, but would no doubt work for some folk. It's pretty much a Valley boat built on a budget. Single skin lay up, but reasonably sturdy (well, the one I borrowed was anyway), Hatch covers were decent, although lacked the elastic attachments to stop them dissappearing if they popped off whilst on the water (not a big job to secure these yourself). Skeg system was simple, but I found that I was more careful while beaching/launching as the skeg box does seem to protrude slightly and think this would potentially be a pebble catcher! Still, no biggy if your careful with launches, I did however, like the simple skeg slider, much better than some other skeg deployment systems (can't go wrong with simplicity). The brace on the hull doesn't look very pretty, but in all honesty, it does it's job at keeping the hull reasonably solid on rough water.
On the water, well, it paddled very nice! to the point of being very impressed. Very responsive, edged nice, tracked nice, but still maintained a fair degree of manouvrability. I did find the backrest impossible to adjust to fit me, but I'm very (and I mean very!) pedantic with fit. It had very good primary stability, decent secondary, I didn't put it completely through it's paces, but I found it a reassuringly easy boat to paddle. So if its a single layer kayak you after, you won't go far wrong with this, it accommodated my 6ft2 slim build/gangly legs pretty well so would no doubt fit a variety of paddler frames. I ended up buying a composite version of this,as it was, well, prettier! But twice the price.....However, I now own a P&H scorpio, after realising that composite wasn't the way to go for me as I cringe when I scratch a plastic boat, I don't think I could take the ear piercing scratching sound of composite against rocks.
So in summary - the Northshore atlantic RM is a great boat, a jack of all trades perhaps, may need a few minor things doing, like finding a better back band and putting some thin bungee cords on the hatches. But who doesn't potter about with carrying out minor tweaks to their kayak after they have just bought it..... :)

Steve

[Kayaks'N'Beer]

I've had a go in one and found it was okay for a single skin boat with a scaffolding pole running from one end to the other. Felt a bit flimsy but tracked okay, edged surprisingly well, carved like a total dog. For 670 bucks I'd take a second hand Capella over two brand new plastic Atlantics but some of that might be down to personal taste.

If, on the other hand, it's the glass version then I'd say go for it. 670 for a new glass anything is pretty much money in the bank if you decide you don't like it and want to sell on.

[p.r.unicycles]

My advice would be to pay your local dealer a visit, it's much better to get a good quality second hand or 2nd grade cheaper kayak,than to get a kayak that was built on a budget.

[Lock and Load]

Thanks to all for your advice and tips. I pick it up next week.

Cheers again.
Chris