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Old 04-08-2014, 07:10 AM   #14
wiredantz
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Under the Shadow
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Another tip:

Make sure you get a kayak with enough weight capacity.
you are going to be top heavy and the kayak is going to flip if the kayak is too small.



Kayak manufacture's do not usually tell you how much weight you can have,
it is simply that your kayak is too small. Legally, Kayak manufacturers do not have to rate their vessels on any type of "stability" factors - only capacity weight. So "technically" you could fill the inside of your kayak with 600lbs of lead (all down in the hull) and all would be fine. But add half that weight to the top of the kayak (rather then the inside) and it will capsize every time.

you are are pushing the very limit of the kayak if its too small.

If you weigh all your gear, equipment, beverage & beverage cooler, etc. you will probably find you are within 10% of the maximum load limit. If you are both broad in the shoulders, your weight is high, and the boat is low in the water. This of course makes it extremely unstable.

Loaded to within 10% of capacity, a lot of vessels (not just kayaks) would capsize if a few people more then half walked over to starboard. In fact, a houseboat with the exact number of people stated on it's mfg's capacity plate recently capsized because too many of them were on the upper deck.

I suggest you get a kayak made for "Tall & Large" kayakers...
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