watching a kayak video. our kayak capacities include the self weight of the kayak.

[Darth-Baiter]

I dont know why I never realized this.   say your kayak has 400 weight carrying capacity, and your kayak weights 100lbs.  you can only carry 300 more pounds.  keep in mind most conventional thinking says we have to stay under 75% of our capacity.  if the paddler weights 200 lbs...  oh o.

 

something to think about as you stuff gear into your boat.  Hobie lists a passenger weight capacity.  mine is 275lbs.  my gear is light and I am a medium-weight, so I am okay for now. 

 

I actually looked up my old textbooks and looked into buoyancy, so I know it isn't cut and dry.  as the boat pushes into the water and displaces it, the capacity actually goes up.  

 

I would love to put my friends pro-angler on a scale.  we all pretend to go deaf when we hear him say, "hey can someone help me with my kayak?".  carrying my half, it is easily 100 lbs, and I have the nose of the thing.  

[flyfisher]

That isn't always the case as there is no industry standard on what capacity really is. Wilderness systems states capacity as the weight the boat can carry and still perform under normal conditions.  Old town does a similar capacity at what the boat can hold and maintain performance to an extent they also list a usable weight which takes out motors pedals batteries etc...

 

I think the bottom line is the capacity listed, no matter the method used to calculate, is the absolute max and you want to be as low in that range as possible to maintain boat charcteristics.  Where the weight is located makes a major difference as well.   I can tell a big difference when I am on a multi day river trip and have camping gear, even though it is light for the most part.  The placement of that weight can really impact performance.

[TnRiver46]

Gonna drop some rocket science here:

 

launch kayak at access area. Get into kayak. If it goes under the water you’ve got too much 

 

if it almost goes under the water, you’ve almost got too much 

 

if it sits just right, you are Goldilocks 

[Deleted account]

59 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Gonna drop some rocket science here:

 

launch kayak at access area. Get into kayak. If it goes under the water you’ve got too much 

 

if it almost goes under the water, you’ve almost got too much 

 

if it sits just right, you are Goldilocks 

It's a good thing NASA chose Houston and not Chattanooga...

[Darth-Baiter]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Gonna drop some rocket science here:

 

launch kayak at access area. Get into kayak. If it goes under the water you’ve got too much 

 

if it almost goes under the water, you’ve almost got too much 

 

if it sits just right, you are Goldilocks 

my friend's pro angler developed a tiny leak.  as the day went on his boat got heavier.  it would handle weird.  like it wallowed.  it looked normal floating, but it got dangerous.  it was easily tipped.

 

i think Goldilocks and effed..is a fine line.  hahah..

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

my friend's pro angler developed a tiny leak.  as the day went on his boat got heavier.  it would handle weird.  like it wallowed.  it looked normal floating, but it got dangerous.  it was easily tipped.

 

i think Goldilocks and effed..is a fine line.  hahah..

Leak is another variable haha. I used to guide kayaking trips. One lady said about halfway thru, “is it normal for there to be a pool of water in here” hahah. I said no let’s switch boats. Well then she started panicking hahah. Lordy. I cut the top off a water bottle and bailed it, paddled it the rest of the way no trouble. Always remain calm when your boat is slowly sinking 

1 hour ago, Deleted account said:

It's a good thing NASA chose Houston and not Chattanooga...

Theyve got a spot on the TN river in Huntsville Alabama…….. been there done the field trip got the T shirt 

[Deleted account]

5 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

They got a spot on the TN river in Huntsville Alabama……..

I know, they are here in MD, and on the eastern shore of VA as well.

[TnRiver46]

11 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

I know, they are here in MD, and on the eastern shore of VA as well.

Are you saying you also have a T shirt? 

[Deleted account]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

Are you saying you also have a T shirt? 

No, but I walk around looking for a bottle with a jeannie in it...  

[Bankc]

The balance of the load can have a HUGE effect.  Of course, port to starboard should always be 50/50.  But stern to bow may be better off balanced. 

 

In my kayak, I originally had my 65lb battery behind me, and it ran fine.  My kayak is rated for 350lbs, and everything included (including the kayak itself), I was just a bit shy of that limit.  Then, I swapped the battery to the front, and it moved like a fly in cold maple syrup.  Same weight.  But the different balance point changed everything, speed, stability, and maneuverability.  And the odd thing is, it was technically evenly balanced with the battery up front.  But the design of the kayak preferred more weight towards the stern.  So with the weight balanced 50/50, it acted like it was overloaded.  But with the weight balanced 35/65 towards the stern, it acted like it wasn't even close to the limit, other than the stern sinking a good bit below level with the bow.  

 

Now I've got a lithium battery that shaved 50lbs off my total weight, and have it balanced around 45/55 towards the stern.  It really likes it there.  

[TnRiver46]

Let’s just say I had to be about 700x the weight limit on this day. Still floated 7 miles and it worked out nicely with a big LM 

[VolFan]

What ?!? You can’t fish out if that tiny orange thing?!??

 

love it!

[bulldog1935]

Once again, Josh's database answers the question. 

The OP thread title may only be correct for His kayak and a gang of brands. 

Some kayaks are rated for usable capacity, while others listed capacity includes the weight of the kayak itself. 

If you look at Neumie's spreadsheet, where it shows a difference between Usable capacity and Listed capacity, the kayak rated capacity includes the kayak weight - where there's not a difference, the rated capacity only includes you and gear - and essential supplies.  

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1H3POyxp2QTpH8YNZQ3OQUMrt43Oaup9hLa4CF-UUQd8/edit#gid=0

 

[Gera]

On 11/9/2022 at 12:02 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Let’s just say I had to be about 700x the weight limit on this day. Still floated 7 miles and it worked out nicely with a big LM 

How much beer can fit in that cooler???

 

[TnRiver46]

20 minutes ago, Gera said:

How much beer can fit in that cooler???

 

I plead the 5th

[bulldog1935]

it gets lighter

 

[Eric 26]

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Once again, Josh's database answers the question. 

The OP thread title may only be correct for His kayak and a gang of brands. 

Some kayaks are rated for usable capacity, while others listed capacity includes the weight of the kayak itself. 

If you look at Neumie's spreadsheet, where it shows a difference between Usable capacity and Listed capacity, the kayak rated capacity includes the kayak weight - where there's not a difference, the rated capacity only includes you and gear - and essential supplies.  

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1H3POyxp2QTpH8YNZQ3OQUMrt43Oaup9hLa4CF-UUQd8/edit#gid=0

 

Essential supplies for sure?I’m intrigued by the double ipa ? Cheers?

[bulldog1935]

@Eric 26

Lorelei craft brewery in Corpus - they're so stingy with Ephyra mango IPA, you have to hunt it down in Corpus.  Tastes very close to Sculpin Aloha.  Perfect liquid bread on the coast flats. 

Steve with cold pizza for lunch. 

Decades ago, a guide buddy taught me to eat Beach Cliff Fish Steaks (pickled herring) in Louisiana Hot Sauce on crackers.  You drain the oil on the bay, throw out cut bait, and may get a redfish with lunch. 

never tried pouring Ephyra on the bay, but it's supposed to draw mermaids

[Eric 26]

21 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

@Eric 26

Lorelei craft brewery in Corpus - they're so stingy with Ephyra mango IPA, you have to hunt it down in Corpus.  Tastes very close to Sculpin Aloha.  Perfect liquid bread on the coast flats. 

Steve with cold pizza for lunch. 

Decades ago, a guide buddy taught me to eat Beach Cliff Fish Steaks (pickled herring) in Louisiana Hot Sauce on crackers.  You drain the oil on the bay, throw out cut bait, and may get a redfish with lunch. 

@bulldog1935 It’s been awhile since I’ve had any Ballast Point brews, but the last time I did it was a variety pack that was really good. Not going to lie I would rather starve than eat pickled herring. Growing up it was a New Year’s Eve tradition to have pickled herring that my grandmother used to always partake in. I’m all in on the cold pizza though for sure.

[Rockytop]

My Bonafide SS127 has a weight limit of 475 lbs. With me and all my junk I'd say I'm pushing 350 if not 375 and It's as stable as it would be with my 11 year old daughter in it. I can stand up and move around or whatever I need to do in it. I'm going to have to sell it though because my shoulder has give out on me and needs replaced. I would get a pedal kayak but my knees are next on the replacement list and I just refuse to put a trolling motor on it and have to pay to have it registered. I'll just stick to my bass boat for now.

[TnRiver46]

4 minutes ago, Rockytop said:

My Bonafide SS127 has a weight limit of 475 lbs. With me and all my junk I'd say I'm pushing 350 if not 375 and It's as stable as it would be with my 11 year old daughter in it. I can stand up and move around or whatever I need to do in it. I'm going to have to sell it though because my shoulder has give out on me and needs replaced. I would get a pedal kayak but my knees are next on the replacement list and I just refuse to put a trolling motor on it and have to pay to have it registered. I'll just stick to my bass boat for now.

Probably a safe bet, that bonafide is heavy for a broken shoulder