#Swifty perception kayak how to

More, as in the performance weight limit is closer to 65% of a kayak’s maximum capacity.Īt that point, determining a performance kayak weight limit that will allow you to comfortably, safely and efficiently paddle your kayak will be much easier. If you want to have some breathing room, be able to add a little extra weight if you have to, or you’re in a fishing kayak that’s taking water up through the scuppers when you get in it, you may have to cut the maximum capacity even more. That means you won’t sink and it won’t be too hard to paddle. Now, giving up 30% of a kayak’s maximum capacity might seem crazy to you, but 30% will only put you in a range to safely operate your kayak. It goes deeper… Wait, I Can Only Use 65% of My Kayak’s Weight Limit? So in that scenario, you’d look for a boat with a 300 lb kayak weight limit.īut no one likes to state kayak weight limit this way, because it feels like you’re losing 30% of your boat! I mean why would the manufacturer put a max capacity on a kayak if you can’t use all of it? Max Capacity = Total Load Requirement/.7 (in our example that equals 285 lbs) 7 to get a desired maximum capacity rating of at least 285 pounds. To go about it from the perspective of already knowing how much weight your kayak has to carry, you would take your 200 pounds of weight you need to put in your kayak and divide it by. So if we want to find out a kayak’s performance weight limit, we would take its maximum capacity x. If you weigh 175 pounds and all your gear weighs 25 pounds, you’ll want to search for a kayak with a performance or practical weight limit of 200 pounds, not a maximum capacity of 200 pounds. Performance kayak weight limit, in practical terms, is about 30-35% less than the manufacturer’s stated maximum capacity kayak weight limit.Īnd for that, we’ll need a formula… Kayak Weight Limit Example:

So, instead of a maximum capacity kayak weight limit we need to figure out what the practical or “performance” kayak weight limit is for any given kayak’s maximum weight capacity. Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Kayak Weight limits () Kayak Weight Limit Video Establishing a Performance Kayak Weight Limit This is a great video illustrating all of the above points: What Happens if I’m Over my Kayak’s Weight Limit?Ī kayak that’s fully loaded to its maximum weight capacity will: NOTE: Maximum capacity load includes not only your weight, but all of your gear, your paddle, and the weight of anything you’re bringing with you on the kayak. Each manufacturer does things just a little bit differently.

#Swifty perception kayak how to

Kayak manufacturer’s use those three measurements and engineering formulas to determine what any given kayak’s maximum capacity is.īut here’s the rub-there isn’t really an agreed upon standard amongst kayak manufacturers for how to measure maximum capacity. The maximum capacity of a kayak is determined by three things: It’s a kayak’s literal weight limit, beyond which it almost sinks or gets unstable and capsizes easily. Maximum Capacity is really just the most weight you can put in a kayak and still keep it afloat. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means we will earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) on the products or services you purchase using the links. So, here are the details on how to find out what size kayak you need for your specific weight.Īmazon and Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. But at a max capacity, your kayak will ride very low in the water. That maximum capacity weight limit is how much weight a kayak will hold when fully loaded. If the weight of you and all your gear fall below that reduced weight limit calculation, then that kayak would be right for your weight.Īnd that’s because your kayak’s performance or usable weight limit is at least 30% below the manufacturer’s maximum capacity rating. Another rule of thumb is to find out the manufacturer’s maximum capacity rating and reduce it by about 30-35%. What size kayak do I need for my weight? The right size kayak for your weight is one with a maximum capacity rating that’s about 125 pounds more than your body weight. Hopefully, we’re going to help you avoid that mistake with this article. It’s normal for beginning kayakers to see all the available kayak length and width options and get confused, so they end up choosing a kayak that’s not properly sized for their weight.

A kayak’s weight limit is one of the most important things to consider when purchasing the right size kayak for you.