Re: [Paddlewise] weight of boats?

Steve James wrote:

> My question is. 1. a boat has so much displacement in fresh water does
> it have the same in salt water. 2. If this displacement is not the same
> then how do you know how much weight can the boat hold.

The difference is about 3% (sea water being about 3% more dense than fresh). 
If you know onedisplacement, you can calculate the other.  Note:  *in very
round numbers,* if your kayak has a draft of 5.00 inches in salt water, it
will have a draft of about 5.15 inches in fresh.  The 0.15 inches is just a
little over an eighth of an inch, and perhaps equivalent to the effect of
adding (or removing) 10 - 15 lbs of cargo -- probably not noticeable in terms
of performance, given that the paddler-boat system weighs something like 220 -
270 lbs, *when there is no other cargo in the yak.*  Packed with 100 lbs of
gear (and food and water) for a week-long trip, the all-up weight is 320 - 370
lbs, and the salt/fresh water difference is even less noticeable. 

> If you get use
> to the boat in fresh water is it harder to get use to it in salt water.
> If you demo a boat in salt water will it feel slower in fresh water.

I doubt it.  I've certainly never noticed any difference, fresh vs salt.

> Can you pack more in a boat that is going in salt water.

For an equivalent draft, yes:  only about 10 - 15 lbs more, which amounts to
only 1 -2 gallons of water.  When I pack for an extended trip, I run out of
volume in the yak long before I run out of cargo (weight-carrying) capacity. 
'Course, my main long-haul boat is rated at something like 450 lbs(!).

YMMV.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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