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From: Kenneth Cooperstein <cprstn54_at_att.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Boat for a Big Guy (was New Kid ...)
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 08:51:31 -0400
I am 6'5", 235 lbs and have size 13's.  I fit fine in a Sealution XL.
You can find used plastic ones for sale at around $700.

Ken Cooperstein


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From: Sisler, Clyde <Clyde.Sisler_at_wang.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Boat for a Big Guy (was New Kid ...)
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 08:23:19 -0400
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. 

I know Necky has some high volume models. Here's a list of sites I picked up
somewhere that should have more information:

Aquaterra/Perception http://www.kayaker.com
Current Designs
Dagger               http://www.dagger.com/home.html
Necky                http://www.sig.net/~mtnsport/necky.html
Northwest kayaks     http://www.nwkayaks.com
Old Town             http://www.otccanoe.com
P&H                  http://www.phcompany.co.uk/phsea.htm
Prijon               http://www.wildnet.com/html/prijon_kayaks.html
Wilderness Systems   http://www.wildsys.com
Valley               http://pages.prodigy.net/keelhauler/valleypx.htm
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From: Sharky <sharky_at_pacific-ocean.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Boat for a Big Guy (was New Kid ...)
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 08:39:55 -0600
Ah-Ha!  Something I actually know about!  Boats for BIG people.<VBG>

I'm not sure about the foot room, but I've got you beat by a few pounds.  So here's my $.02 on boats that you can check out.

My first recommendation is to look at Sit-On-Tops.  They typically have large payload ratings, and since there's no deck, cockpit size and foot room are non-issues.  

SOT's
Aquaterra/Perception Prism is, IMHO, a good touring SOT.  Their Swing is very stable and what I use to introduce friends to kayaking.

Ocean Kayak's Scupper Pro seemed like a slug to me, when I paddled it.

Cobra Kayaks boats are nice, but I'm only 5'-8" and I was using the last set of foot braces.

Necky's Dolphin or Spike.  I liked the Spike, but haven't tried the longer Dolphin.

Decked boats
Necky Pinta  THE big person boat, IMO.  LOTS of room and hard chines making it very maneuverable.  It only comes in Fiberglas or Kevlar so $$$

Necky Tesla NM (New Millenium)  a slightly larger version of the Tesla.  I liked this boat.  It was a good fit, but I'm not sure about me AND gear.

Current Designs Storm  I've paddled this boat and did OK with it.  The peaked foredeck makes getting in a bit easier.

Prijon Yukon Expedition.  I haven't paddled this boat, but it's high volume and a good size cockpit.

Dagger Atlantis is another high payload (335lbs) that you might want to check.  I haven't, as yet, tried this boat either.

Hope this information helps, and welcome to the wonderful world of kayaking!

Sharky


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From: Mark Zen <canoeist_at_netbox.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Boat for a Big Guy (was New Kid ...)
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 08:54:17 -0600 (MDT)
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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From: Chris Banner <cbanner_at_pacificcoast.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Boat for a Big Guy (was New Kid ...)
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 07:56:15 -0700 (PDT)
Hi All,
I ran the rental fleet in Victoria. B.C. for Ocean River Sports this last
summer. Ocean River Sports is owned by Brian Henry who also owns Current
Designs. So, needless to say most of the fleet were Current Design Boats.
One Sunday morning a fellow came down to rent a kayak. He was giant. He had
hands like feet and feet like barges. He tried a CD Storm and a GT Solstice
before he finally found foot and cockpit comfort in a Solstice GTS High Volume.
He had a good days paddle and returned vowing that the GTS High Volume was
the boat for him!
CD High Volume boats have an additional 3/4" in the hull height, which makes
them great baots for those with larger feet!
Chris.
Victoria. B.C.

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From: Mark Zen <canoeist_at_netbox.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Boat for a Big Guy (was New Kid ...)
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 09:27:36 -0600 (MDT)
On Fri, 16 Oct 1998, Sharky wrote:

> 
> Ah-Ha!  Something I actually know about!  Boats for BIG people.<VBG>
[snip]
> Decked boats
[snip]
> Prijon Yukon Expedition.  I haven't paddled this boat, but it's high
> volume and a good size cockpit. 

i wrote about the aquaterra spectrum earlier, i also have a yukon
expedition. i'm lighter than both of you. this boat is pretty close to the
same as the spectrum. i think it would be too small. high volume- yes,
roomy cockpit, yes; add another 100# [~45Kg] and it would be a real dog.

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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From: <Cooksre_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Boat for a Big Guy (was New Kid ...)
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 10:21:14 EDT
Hi all, 

Sorry to jump in on a psuedo-commercial note, but we (Pacific Water Sports)
make a boat designed specifically for guys this size and larger.  It is called
the Thunderbird and you can get the specs at our web site.  Warning, the site
is very much under construction.

Happy Paddling!

Rob Cookson

<A HREF="Http\\www.pwskayaks.com">Http\\www.pwskayaks.com</A>

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