handydonutholes wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2018 5:50 pmHello,
I have been taking lessons and am saving to buy a used hang glider. I have about $2,500 saved now, and will have enough by March to purchase a hang glider. I was hoping to spend between $3,500-$4,000 for everything used. I just got an offer today to buy:
-Wills Wing 195 Falcon 4
-Woody Valley Flex 2 Harness (Fits me)
-250 Lara Parachute
-Charly No Limit Helmet
All the equipment only has been used about twice, so it is like new. The price is $5,000. Is this a deal I should jump on? Or just wait it out to find another deal for $4,000? Thank you!
Handy,
A lot depends on where you are located, how much you weigh, and the motivation of the seller. In a hard winter, prices usually get lower. In places where you can fly all year 'round, there will not be any "winter" prices. You want your weight to be about in the middle of the 195 weight range (175~275 pounds, hook-in weight). As for the total asking price, it comes out to new prices on everything, but with a (nice) free harness, and a throwaway (far away!!) helmet. To say a harness fits, you would need to hang in it for at least an hour in the shop. Any place that the harness bites you after an hour in the shop, it will bite the same way after an hour in the air. You really can't tell about a harness, in just 20 minutes of hang time in the shop. See my web page, linked below, for more.
Avoid gliders with black, brown or blue leading edges. Nobody would see you coming.
It's mostly very good gear (forget that stinkin' helmet!), at tall prices. If the seller can meet you somewhere between your $3500 and the asking $5000, I'd call it fair, if you can swing that much cash. See if there are any extras that can come with the deal, such as wheels, manuals, bar mitts, extra bags, tie-downs, spare hardware, et c. You will still need a decent helmet, though. Offer to leave the Charly with the seller.
Newly minted pilots can be rough on the equipment, even with wheels. I would generally advise getting a somewhat older glider at first, because the first little scrapes or marks on the glider would hurt less. If you just gotta have this one, then I'd say you should invest in an extra lesson or two, to better preserve your nice gear. Prices for that will be a trade-off, so if money gets in the way, at least find yourself a few good mentors for a while. Fly the easy sites only, and only in the nicest conditions. Be prepared to bag it on any particular day, if any aspect of the adventure becomes questionable. Your glider will thank you.
If you buy this deal, we will want to see some pix.