How much should a new Esquif cost in US?

[oopsiflipped]

I checked out a boat at the shop in Ft Collins and it was almost $2000 outfitted and with an electric bilge pump. Seemed kinda spendy so I've been looking online and see the same boat for $1100 at a shop in Montana. What gives? Which esquif hull design is best for beginners? Paradigm?

Gabe

[Randy Dodson]

What kind of boat was it?

did one have straps while the other one had bulkhead outfitting?

Did the boat in Montana have an electric bilge pump?

[noobopenboater]

the esquifs ive seen usually are around 1500 outfitted, not sure about bilge. I think the zephyr and the vertige have hulls that are beginner freindly according to esuif.

[msims]

My guess is the 1100 one was just the hull, no outfitting. I think I saw a zephyr up here (in ottawa) for around 16/1700 buck, fully outfitted. At a bilge pump in and that could be 200 buck retail on top... even though you can do your own bilge pump for 75 buck max for matls..

[mshelton]

Add the Nitro to the beginner list, probably more suited for a novice than the Zeph.

[BigSpencer]

Canada is high and Colorado = soak-the-Yuppies,(*EDIT)..although in agreement with Eric...the nice wooden gunwales and bilgepump add..
Montana's, as mentioned, is the right ballpark.......

[oopsiflipped]

i think the paradigm was 1680 outfitted with saddle, nice straps, adjustable foot pegs, but no flotation and another $200 for the pump. if i spend 1100 on a hull, how much more is it to outfit the boat?

[mshelton]

Where are you located getting these prices?

[Eric Nyre]

Depends on what you want to do with the boat. If you're making your own saddle and usng basic straps you can get by on $100 in parts. If you're wanting a nice Mikey double strap setup you're closer to $500 with bags. Pumps like everything else are also all over the place. Rapid Runner will be over $300, parts for a DIY pump range from $75 - $180 (basic with lead acid - dual pumps, LiION battery, etc).

The Mountain Shop is fair in their price for the rigged boat. For me to rig a Bell Prodigy with the full setup/ pump is also putting the boat over the $2000 range. If you buy the hull and do everything else yourself you will save a few $$.

To put it in perspective, my used Prodigy X, custom rigged with pump and floatbags is listed at $1,899. Granted she's in awesome shape and has wood gunwales (which add to the price), but that's fair value. $2,000 for a new boat, if everything is done right and the pump is a good system isn't far off. In other words, for trick rigging the hull is about half the price of the finished boat, unless you're doing all the labor in which case you'll save $100+ (more if you make your own parts).

[Eric Nyre]

Note on price variances:

I'm not an Esquif dealer, but when we looked into it the shipping on the boats to Colorado was outrageous, with small margins that don't absorb it. The dealers going to pass that off to the customer. So while NOC may list one price (closer and more volume = less shipping costs), the guy in northern Colorado is going to be in a different world. If it's costing them $250 to get the boat brought in, that's going to add to the price.

Buying from other dealers may be an option if they offer free shipping. Otherwise that cheaper boat on the east coast will become one pricy beast once she heads this way. Of course if you're going on a road trip...

[RyanGarnett]

I just moved from Canada to Fort Collins and have bought an Esquif from the shop you are talking about. And I can tell you that it is cheaper to buy it here in town than it is in Canada. I was looking at a used Esquif and it was going to be $1500 + tax. I got a Detonator outfitted and with the pump and it was like $1500. This is my first solo boat (I have lots of tandem experience) and I love the boat. At first it seems a little tippy, but it holds an edge amazingly. Its great to paddle and does hold a line well (for a flat bottom haul).