[Paddlewise] Paddler's weight

>>David Seales <dseal_at_ntplx.com> wrote:

Subject: [Paddlewise] Paddler's weight
I'm looking to move up from my SOTs to a decked kayak. I've been looking at
a lot of boats and  keep running into the same problem. That is that kayaks
are small and I'm big...6'-3",  240lbs with size 13 feet. One of the first
things I look at is the weight of paddler the kayak was designed for. I
know about buoyancy and displacement and why a boat floats but don't
understand some kayak capacity specs. Take the Northwest Synergy RM or
others like it...a 16'+ boat with a load capacity of 340lbs but their specs
say it's ideal for a 120-200lb paddler. I would assume a good kayak would
have the paddler sitting at or very near it's CG. So except for all the
effects that any weight would have on it...like riding lower in the water
and maybe handling sluggishly...why would the boat care if the weight is
the paddler or 100lbs extra pounds of gear?...assuming it's distributed
evenly. Should I not even consider a boat like this and look only at those
rated to carry a 240lb paddler? There are not many that do...I don't want
to paddle a 20' double by myself.
dave<<

Dave, it is not your weight that is the problem (except with very small
kayaks--where there won't be enough buoyancy to rescue a swamped kayak) it
is your size that creates physical fit problems, particularly in the thighs,
hips and feet. You won't be able to cram yourself into a low or tight
cockpit or get your feet comfortable under a low front deck. Your weight and
height will cause another problem that will make many more kayaks
unsuitable, that is, you will be tippier than average so you will need a
more stable kayak (which usually means somewhat wider than average).
At your size some kayaks that I am pretty sure you will fit into and that
probably will be stable enough are (in roughly alphabetical order):

Current Designs Pachena
Current Designs Breeze (plastic Pachena)
Current Designs Solstice GTHV
Easy Rider Seahawk
Easy Rider Eskimo 17 (or 18-6)
Eddyline Wind Dancer
Necky Pinta
Necky Tesla NM
Nimbus Seafarer
Nimbus Telkwa (or Telkwa HV)
Northwest Kayaks Pursuit XL
PWS Sea Otter 500 GP (or Expedition)
PWS Thunderbird
Seda Viking
Wilkinson Boat Enetai HP
Wilkinson Boat Polaris II
Wilderness Systems Sealution XL

I'm not recommending all these, some of them I really detest, but these
should all fit you and be stable enough (at least once you become relatively
skilled). Novice paddlers tend to overate stability and tracking stiffness
to their detriment later but there does need to be a certain minimum or you
will never get comfortable with it. Be careful of a smaller paddlers
experiences or judgment concerning what is a good kayak here.
Anyone else want to add some I have missed that they are sure will fit Dave?
Matt Broze, 6'1" 195, size 12 feet
http://www.marinerkayaks.com


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