As for alternatives, there seems to be an industry wide pile up of supply not being able to meet demand, delivery logistic meltdown, and overall unpredictability. Before I quote
https://paddlingmag.com/stories/news-ev ... forecasts/ I can relate my experience outside Hobie where after a 6 week delay they called me for multi hundreds more in unforseeable shipment cost (we eventually split the difference).
Quote:
What are the biggest challenges facing the industry?
The pandemic has challenged the paddlesports industry.The unexpected growth, coupled with insufficient supply, shipping and fulfillment, has caused problems for brands and retailers. Service providers have had huge challenges with ever-changing and unclear rules of operation, and they have had to regularly pivot to do their best to meet customers’ needs and safety protocols.—Kristin Thomas, Interim President, SUP Industry Association
Meeting demand. Phones have been ringing off the hook, and there was no off-season. For most of the industry, the challenges are managing the supply chain, the shortfall, keeping costs down, limiting price increases, and prioritizing who to sell to. I don’t know anyone who isn’t having some issues. That means extensive lead times and a shift in expectations for consumers. I think one of the questions we’re all asking is, when is the drop-off? When will demand soften or fall out? Some people hope it’ll take years; others think it’ll be weeks or months. There’s a lot of presold boats, a lot of panic-buying inventory, and the question is, when does the inventory hangover start to impact dealers. It’ll be a real challenge in the future.—Andrew Stern, Marketing Manager, Bending Branches
Internally, COVID-19 travel restrictions have been especially hard for companies like us with employees in Canada and the USA. As the outdoor boom continues, supply chain and logistics issues are a huge challenge to get products into consumers’ hands. As restrictions lift, the challenge will be to take all of these new entrants into paddlesports and keep them engaged and stoked on paddling.—Josh Horoshok, VP Recreation Category, Mustang Survival
2020 was the perfect storm that showed why we feel everyone should be kayaking… It’s healthy. It gets you outdoors, away from crowds and breathing clean air. It’s something you can do safely with friends and family—and six feet apart is normal. It’s cheaper than motorboats. As an industry, we learned we need to keep broadcasting these realities to those who don’t paddle. Dispel the myths and show folks just how amazing, safe and fun it is out on the water. —James McBeath, Director of Marketing, Jackson Adventures
Later edit: My alternative to Hobie was not only late with price over runs, it came in the wrong ugly color and worst of all a bad twist in the hull. I think that asymmetry is tricky to avoid if they seal one side before the other.
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I’m new to the forum and just got on the waiting list. Now I find out from this forum that I’ll have to wait another half year. I might croak of old age before Hobie can make my iTrek 9. I would substitute a Lynx but it just won’t fit into my Jeep. 