Hi, First allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hal and for the record I am a 42 year old male. I have been an OC1 enthusiast for a few years. Paddling primarily on "wilderness rivers" in the Michigan area. Having been recently transplanted to Stockholm, Sweden I immediately learned two things. 1) What I have been paddling is called a Canadian :-) and more importantly 2) Judging by the waters around here it is time to experience sea kayaking. Here is the catch! I am an er, uhm, uh, full figured gentleman (i.e. fat dude) At 6 foot 285 pounds (180cm, 130kg) I don't fit in most 'yaks. I have yet to find a hardshell that I can fit in. The largest cockpit I have found here so far, was the P&H Poly Capella and it was too tight. It looks like the PWS Thunderbird might work but I have no way of knowing without flying about 7000 miles to try one out. Never mind the shipping to get it back to Sweden. I also believe that a Swedish built boat called "Caribou CXXLH" (www.mar strandskajaker.se) can be custom modified for me. I have started looking at the tandem folding boats. It seems the open cockpit design with a solo spray skirt might be my answer. I have looked at the Klepper Expedition II and am waiting for the opportunity to look at a Feathercraft Klondike. Please Help, by commenting on my mentioned options and offering any others you can think of! THANKS, Hal *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
The PWS Thunderbird (17-6 x 28.25" with 35.5" by 19.25" inside cockpit dimensions) will definitely be big enough too fit you. It was designed with a 300 lb. person in mind. A Nimbus Telkwa HV (18-4 x 24.4" with 32.75" by 17.25" inside cockpit dimensions) will most likely will fit and is sleeker but won't be as stable as in the Thunderbird. A Nimbus Seafarer (16-8" x 24" with 35" by 17" cockpit also can fit really big guys. A Necky Pinta (17-5 x 27.1" with a 36" by 19" inside cockpit dimensions will almost certainly fit. Mike Neckar, Necky's founder is probably pretty close to your size. Stability is something a really big guy needs more of in a kayak, unless they are an expert. Matt Broze www.marinerkayaks.com -----Original Message----- From: Hal Christiansen <hal_at_mbox305.swipnet.se> To: PaddleWise (E-mail) <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Date: Wednesday, May 12, 1999 11:21 AM Subject: [Paddlewise] Please Help with Kayak Choices >Hi, > >First allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hal and for the record I am >a 42 year old male. > >I have been an OC1 enthusiast for a few years. Paddling primarily on >"wilderness rivers" in the Michigan area. > >Having been recently transplanted to Stockholm, Sweden I immediately >learned two things. >1) What I have been paddling is called a Canadian :-) > >and more importantly >2) Judging by the waters around here it is time to experience sea kayaking. > >Here is the catch! I am an er, uhm, uh, full figured gentleman (i.e. fat >dude) > >At 6 foot 285 pounds (180cm, 130kg) I don't fit in most 'yaks. I have yet >to find a hardshell that I can fit in. The largest cockpit I have found >here so far, was the P&H Poly Capella and it was too tight. It looks like >the PWS Thunderbird might work but I have no way of knowing without flying >about 7000 miles to try one out. Never mind the shipping to get it back to >Sweden. > >I also believe that a Swedish built boat called "Caribou CXXLH" (www.mar >strandskajaker.se) can be custom modified for me. > >I have started looking at the tandem folding boats. It seems the open >cockpit design with a solo spray skirt might be my answer. >I have looked at the Klepper Expedition II and am waiting for the >opportunity to look at a Feathercraft Klondike. > >Please Help, by commenting on my mentioned options and offering any others >you can think of! > >THANKS, >Hal > > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Hal Christiansen wrote: > 2) Judging by the waters around here it is time to experience sea kayaking. > Here is the catch! I am an er, uhm, uh, full figured gentleman (i.e. fat > dude) At 6 foot 285 pounds (180cm, 130kg) I don't fit in most 'yaks. > I have started looking at the tandem folding boats. It seems the open > cockpit design with a solo spray skirt might be my answer. I fit the full figured moniker, also, although most of my full figure is at waist level. (BTW, I prefer to say: "I'm a big guy in the cockpit region.") There are several hardshell singles which should work for you, though some may take a bit of outfitting. This means you may have to replace the factory seat with one broad enough and deep enough to make the cockpit comfy. I have replaced the factory seat in a couple of my singles with foam (minicell) carved to fit. This allows you to move the bottom of your tush **closer** to the hull, giving you another precious inch or so depth in the cockpit -- to slink those full figured thighs into the cockpit and give your legs some lift at the knees. Makes it possible to stay in the cockpit for several hours. Might mention that a serious program of stretching exercises will help a lot, also. Another tactic (not for the fainthearted) is to move the seatback rearward an inch or so -- gives a little more entry/exit room. Be wary, however, because this will change the trim of the yak. I did this in an Eddyline Sea Star so my SO would fit its cockpit better, and in that boat, it was OK. Would NOT be OK in a shorter boat. Other hardshells to consider: Eddyline Wind Dancer, and the HVGT line from Current Designs (http://www.cdkayak.com/). In open cockpit folders, there is a conversion kit which will take a Folbot Greenland II double to a single. This arrangement is one favored by many who like to sail their G II's. Bet shipping a folder is less expensive and less hassle than shipping a full-size hardshell, too! At 285, you also need to look at how much payload is left after you climb in. You definitely need a big boat. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR 230, 5-10, and REEEALLY big in the cockpit region ... <g> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
The Caribou's cockpit has similar inside dimensions (if my two sources measured the same way I did anyway) as the Capella but it is wider overall at 23.6" rather than 22.25" for the Capella so might well be more stable (but still maybe not stable enough). Also, Nautiraid's (France) smaller double has a spraydeck you can get with just one hole and I know a guy who paddles and sails one solo. In Sweden VKV's Seagull Ocean looks to be one that might fit and be stable enough. length width and cockpit size are 17-5x25.2x37.8x17.7 Pontus Gustavsson in Sweden owns a Caribou maritimus_at_mail.bip.net He is very knowlegable about kayaks available in Sweden. -----Original Message----- From: Hal Christiansen <hal_at_mbox305.swipnet.se> To: PaddleWise (E-mail) <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Date: Wednesday, May 12, 1999 11:21 AM Subject: [Paddlewise] Please Help with Kayak Choices >Hi, > >First allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hal and for the record I am >a 42 year old male. > >I have been an OC1 enthusiast for a few years. Paddling primarily on >"wilderness rivers" in the Michigan area. > >Having been recently transplanted to Stockholm, Sweden I immediately >learned two things. >1) What I have been paddling is called a Canadian :-) > >and more importantly >2) Judging by the waters around here it is time to experience sea kayaking. > >Here is the catch! I am an er, uhm, uh, full figured gentleman (i.e. fat >dude) > >At 6 foot 285 pounds (180cm, 130kg) I don't fit in most 'yaks. I have yet >to find a hardshell that I can fit in. The largest cockpit I have found >here so far, was the P&H Poly Capella and it was too tight. It looks like >the PWS Thunderbird might work but I have no way of knowing without flying >about 7000 miles to try one out. Never mind the shipping to get it back to >Sweden. > >I also believe that a Swedish built boat called "Caribou CXXLH" (www.mar >strandskajaker.se) can be custom modified for me. > >I have started looking at the tandem folding boats. It seems the open >cockpit design with a solo spray skirt might be my answer. >I have looked at the Klepper Expedition II and am waiting for the >opportunity to look at a Feathercraft Klondike. > >Please Help, by commenting on my mentioned options and offering any others >you can think of! > >THANKS, >Hal > > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
http://csisler.com/Kayaks/Links/Commercial.htm has links to many manufacturers of hardshells, foldables, SOT, Inflatibles, etc. so you can get the actual specifications and really see what's available. Clyde Sisler http://csisler.com -----Original Message----- From: Hal Christiansen [mailto:hal_at_mbox305.swipnet.se] Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 1999 1:31 PM To: PaddleWise (E-mail) Subject: [Paddlewise] Please Help with Kayak Choices Hi, First allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hal and for the record I am a 42 year old male. I have been an OC1 enthusiast for a few years. Paddling primarily on "wilderness rivers" in the Michigan area. Having been recently transplanted to Stockholm, Sweden I immediately learned two things. 1) What I have been paddling is called a Canadian :-) and more importantly 2) Judging by the waters around here it is time to experience sea kayaking. Here is the catch! I am an er, uhm, uh, full figured gentleman (i.e. fat dude) At 6 foot 285 pounds (180cm, 130kg) I don't fit in most 'yaks. I have yet to find a hardshell that I can fit in. The largest cockpit I have found here so far, was the P&H Poly Capella and it was too tight. It looks like the PWS Thunderbird might work but I have no way of knowing without flying about 7000 miles to try one out. Never mind the shipping to get it back to Sweden. I also believe that a Swedish built boat called "Caribou CXXLH" (www.mar strandskajaker.se) can be custom modified for me. I have started looking at the tandem folding boats. It seems the open cockpit design with a solo spray skirt might be my answer. I have looked at the Klepper Expedition II and am waiting for the opportunity to look at a Feathercraft Klondike. Please Help, by commenting on my mentioned options and offering any others you can think of! THANKS, Hal *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:32:59 PDT