Re: [Paddlewise] Boat for a Big Guy (was New Kid ...)

On Fri, 16 Oct 1998, Dave Kruger wrote:

> 
> Will Sahli wrote:
> 
> > I have been a casual canoeist for 35 years (finally need to get serious
> > about my fun, I guess), and am dying to try kayaking. Some potential
> > handicaps are size (I'm 6'3" tall, weigh 285, and have size 15 feet) and
> > the need to research everything to death before I jump in with both very
> > large feet. 
> 
> Hoo, boy!  I'm 5-10, 225 lbs, and have size 9 feet.  Even so, there are
> a lot of "normal-sized" sea kayaks which are too small in the cockpit
> area to fit me *comfortably.*

[snip]

> An entry-level boat which MIGHT work is the Aquaterra Spectrum, in
> plastic.  Even so, you would probably have to re-position the footpeg
> runners (and lengthen the rudder cables).

my spectrum doesn't have a rudder, so how/why would i lengthen the
cables?? ;-) i'm 6' [1.8m] tall, 190# [85-90Kg] with size 11 feet, and i
find the spectrum roomy, but a pretty good fit, even with no outfitting, i
have run it down class II rivers, and have recently taken it on an over
night camping trip. i would guess that with over 300# in it, it would be
over loaded (i'm including normal gear etc, guessing most people carry
at least 15# [6-7Kg] of gear with them, even on day trips)

i just bought the seda viking, reviewed by canoe & kayak magazine a few
months ago. it's REALLY roomy, but i haven't paddled it but twice, no
gear, so i have no idea of capacity...

good luck, and let us know, as this question comes up a bit. we seem to
have a "disproportionately large" group here ;-) so i'd expect a number of
folks to chime in here.

mark

#------canoeist[at]netbox[dot]com----http://www.diac.com/~zen/mark ----
#
mark zen                      o,    o__              o_/|   o_.
po box 474                   </     [\/              [\_|   [\_\
ft. lupton, co 80621-0474 (`-/-------/----')      (`----|-------\-')
#~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~
http://www.diac.com/~zen/paddler  [index to club websites i administer]

Rocky Mtn Sea Kayak Club, Colorado River Flows, Poudre Paddlers
The Colorado Paddlers' Resource, Rocky Mtn Canoe Club Trip Page 
--
Fortune:
"In a world without fences, who needs 'Gates'"
   -- Scott McNealy

"In a world without walls, who needs 'Windows'"
   -- Dave Livigni


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