Phoenix Isere, made with Kevlar ,14'9", a lean and friendly 27 lbs, little used

Description

I have two Phoenix kayaks, both purchased new, and both in Kevlar fiber layup.  One is the Poke Boat model (stated 12’ in length, 22 lb, a less-sleek fishing/hunting design), and the Isere model here listed (stated 14' 9" in length, 27 lb, a considerably more-sleek open-water/river/mild-whitewater design).  When not in use, both consistently hang from my home’s attached-garage ceiling, never subject to the whims of outdoor storage.
When initially purchased, I intended the Poke Boat model for near-home lagoon paddling/fishing, the Isere model for longer and more heavily-stowed river ventures.
As life would have it, these intended longer and more heavily-stowed river ventures invariably seemed to bump up against ever-increasing business-time demands, so the Isere saw little actual on-water use, maybe a maximum of only a dozen or so times, and always in quiet lagoon waters.
In hindsight, even when business-time demands did allow, I often opted for the Poke Boat’s shorter/lighter configuration, her easier cartop unloading/loading and portaging to/from water’s edge better fitting my smallish and ever-aging physique.
Now in my 80’s, reality seems finally to be firmly dictating that I find the Isere a new home.
Back when I acquired these kayaks, Phoenix was known as “Phoenix Poke Boats, Inc.”, with headquarters and manufacturing in Berea, Kentucky, apparently later operating out of McKee, Kentucky.
It‘s my understanding that she now is part of a larger company operating under the Phoenix name out of Auckland, New Zealand, with some portion of operations remaining in Kentucky for production of military procurement items, but also accepting special orders for original kayak layups.
Per phone call near time of this posting, the price of a new Kevlar fiber Isere is ,600, plus tax and delivery, sans factory-installed extras such as discussed in the second paragraph below.
Quoting from an old Poke Boat flyer (see photo, applies to Isere and all other kayak models), the company's major focus always has been
WEIGHT vs.
STRENGTH
,
stressing structural integrity, flex on impact, and selective reinforcement (multi-layering in most vulnerable areas coupled with less-layering elsewhere, thereby optimizing overall weight).
Use of lighter/stronger/more-costly Kevlar fiber rather than their regular high-quality fiber merely pushes both ends of this focus to their max.
As for how the Isere design translates to on-water performance, reviews I’ve located around the web speak of her as boasting “fabulous” design compromises, its approximately 14’ waterline holding up well against longer kayaks in terms of speed, stability, straight-line performance, and of course maneuverability.
In Kevlar fiber layup, she’s described as being somewhat of a workout machine, making you want to push yourself further and faster
just because you know you can
, as accelerating and gliding with little effort, and as less-quickly wearing the paddler down.
One claim I’ve read (and firmly believe) is “a kayak’s use is very much proportional to its
WEIGHT
”
, which of course plays directly into the Kevlar pitch.
Although maybe less immediately apparent to many of us not into white-water bashing or otherwise bumping into things, Kevlar’s exemplary
STRENGTH
also affects a kayak’s use, a broken boat resides only at home.
My Isere includes two factory-installed extras: thigh/knee bracing and seatback cushioning (see photo).
Other features include inflatable floatation (supposedly makes for more flexible stowage, see Poke Boat flyer photo), and below-water-line seating (creating an extremely low center of gravity).
As for looks, on any reasonably sunny day the Kevlar weave visible from within its resin mix is spectacular!
To me, the Isere can be summarily described as a paddler’s kayak: spartan in design (no picnic-chair high seatback, no ice bucket, no cup holders, no rod holders, no rudder), and easily controlled.  One reviewer on the Playak.com site describes her in more glossy terms: “A
n elegant touring kayak that has been paddled in virtually every ocean, large lake and river in the world.
From Alaskan waterways to the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes to the great rivers of America, paddlers of all ages have found the Isere to be efficient, stable and lightweight.
She tracks well, and can be handled with a minimum of effort by both beginners and experts. She's an exceptionally easy kayak in which to learn the basics. Responsive to body balance, there's no need for a rudder (though one can be added if desired). A large cockpit makes her comfortable for almost everyone. She can also handle mild white water.”
Considering all the above, and factoring in my Isere’s like-new condition (minimum use and life-long indoor storage) and factory-installed extras, I’m posting a Buy-It-Now price at roughly a third below Phoenix’s quoted new price sans factory-installed extras.  Delivery will be eyeball-to-eyeball, with buyer pre-sale inspection being either on-water at the Skokie Lagoons (Glencoe IL) or on-land near my home a bit further north.  Due to the nature of any type boat being subject to post-delivery wear and tear or worse, the signed and witnessed sale receipt will clearly stipulate no post-sale right-of-return.