C-Forum

Over the last few weeks I've exchanged e-mails with Marko at Drakkar Kayaks to find out how I can purchase a WheelBoy and get it shipped to Idaho. Marko is working on distribution and will get back to me in the near future. I am very excited about this boat. The hull design and other measurements should make for a good time on the water.

Here is Marko's last e-mail (April 1):
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HI

the only real wheelboys are at my place !! so it will take few days until we get a real videos. the season is breaking here and we get good surf videos in 8.4. as we go for some rivertour to south of country !!

We see the shipping directly to you and also look for dealer in US.

Please be patient The boat is well worth the waiting. I just nailed kayakers in a Kingpin icon in flat sprint speed.

marko
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I'm curious, is there anyone else in the US looking to purchase a WheelBoy NOW?

Bob

Bob,
You asked for interest NOW, I realize. But I want to let Drakkar know that I am interested in the WheelBoy. Can't get another new boat until next year though (just got the Fink). That boat would be alot of fun at the Reno Whitewater Park.
SYOTR,
Bruce

drakkar having a distrubter in north america, is key!! I want to try this boat so bad, and would love to rip it up on the ottawa with it.

I look forward to seeing what your sales and response is to the boats, out on your side of the world. Keep us updated!!!

I want one, but first i would like to see some actual photos. Price and shipping might help too.
Larry

Bob,

I finally cracked and put a preorder in with Drakkar for a Wheelboy, hoping to get an estimate of shipping as part of the process. They responded with the following:

"The release date of Wheelboy has been set to mid June. We will contact you within two-three weeks and send you all the promotional materials, prices and shipping procedures and costs."

Did you end up doing a preorder? Have you seen any estimate of the shipping costs?

I will keep the forum updated as things move along...

Randy,

I've been periodically talking with Marko about when boats are actually available. I've not yet received any shipping cost info. Getting the WheelBoy manufactured has been an inch-worm process. Originally mid-April, then mid-May, and now it's June. It's a bit frustrating, since I have trouble getting my Robson NRG boat onto Idaho's big playspots running right now. However, the WheelBoy's C1-specific rodeo boat design looks awesome and is still worth the wait for me.

Bob

I remain interested - enthusiastic even .
Bruce

I would be keen too. Let me know.

Randy and Bruce,

You both are located near Boise. If we all purchased a WheelBoy at the same time, Marko could ship all three to one location, then we could ship (or pickup) to our US locations. I would be willing to take on this task and have all three shipped to Boise and I will ship the your boat within the US. Bruce, I could meet you in Reno and we could play the whitewater park.

Bob

Bob,

That sounds good to me.

If it is cheaper to have the boats delivered to a sea port, I can pick up an order in Seattle or Tacoma, WA and handle any further shipping from there.

Should we buy some extras and become a distributor?...

dont' forget me i want one too
i "pre-ordered" one months ago. got a reply that said thanks and haven't heard a word since. i also inquired about becoming a dealer but got no reply. i'm not sure why, but i have my doubts about these drakkar boys. i hope they can pull it off!

Bob,
That's an attractive proposition, but I'm not financially ready . I just got the Fink.
How far is it from Boise to Reno anyway?
SYOTR,
Bruce

Bruce, I thought we were allowed 2 new boats per year?

how much are these boats going to be? I am intreested?

Yukon,

The price quoted to me was 550 euros, I think. If my memory is good, that converted to $650 US on the day that I checked. That was for a boat and some foam for outfitting - the foam is not to be installed at that price.

The kicker will be shipping. I don't think the shipping cost can be established until all the buyers are known. I assume that it is more cost-effective to ship several or more boats at one time. I imagine that drakkar is playing the waiting game, hoping to get enough buyers in one shipment to allow for an acceptable cost per boat.

They may be facing the same issue regarding production of these early boats.

If enough people purchase a boat at the same time, the overall cost of each boat may be affordable.

The design looks good to me - I really want a full-on play boat that has more volume than my Groove AND a width dimension consistent with C-1 style of paddling. That doesn't exist in converted kayaks.